Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: GENTLE (10/21/21)
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TITLE: OVER AND UNDER | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lynn Kowal
10/25/21 -
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The angry young man in stained clothes slurred these words as he staggered to his feet and took a few steps from his perch on a stacking chair at the back of our Church, towards the front where a young couple was testifying of God’s goodness.
As everyone stiffened, I quickly rose to scan the congregation for my husband, the Pastor. This type of outburst was not new to us, but, like always, it would be difficult to handle, and I needed him to take charge right away.
We have ministered for 22 years to alcoholic and drug-addicted people, learning the hard way, that dealing with an inebriated adult is not the same thing as dealing with a child, even though the adult is behaving like one.
We’ve discovered that we have to die to the anger that invariably rises within us, because “church” has now suddenly become “battlefield,” and the only way to handle this type of situation correctly, is to put on the armour of God. When an adult has lost control of his/her reasoning, love is what reaches them.
The young man quickly ran out of steam and stumbled back to his chair.
As I began to lead worship, I decided to tell the story of our daughter who was waiting tables by herself one evening at an elegant restaurant in a hotel near the Church. She had been in over her head with the sheer number of patrons that she had to take care of, and in desperation, she called for help where even the General Manager of the hotel dropped everything and came running.
I said to the congregation, “If you are ever in a situation where you are in over you head, call for the General Manager of Life, and He will drop everything to come running to your aid.”
As I finished worship and was returning to my seat, the young men burst out again with loud laughter and inappropriate comments, and I lost my temper.
I marched back to the place where they were sitting, thinking that I would give their arms a good shake - like a mother who must discipline her wayward children.
As I headed toward them, a hush broke out over the congregation while they watched me, and as I came closer and closer to these men, I saw that they were both taller and stronger than I was. It occurred to me in that moment, that they might be embarrassed or belittled by my grabbing their arms like children, and in the condition they were in, they might strike out at me as a result.
I realized that I was in over my head.
Jesus spoke strongly to my heart at that moment, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit (Zechariah 4:6)” He seemed to continue, “You can grab their flesh in anger on the outside; or you can obey me by saying the words that I give you to say – and grab them on the inside.”
I obeyed Jesus, and instead of reaching forward to grab them by the arms, I bent over and gently laid my hands on the top of their heads, praying in a loud voice,“ Lord Jesus. Help me to love these people.”
Instantly the two drunken men became silent, and as I continued to lean forward, I found myself giving them a gentle kiss on the top of each man’s head.
That action broke the tense atmosphere in the church, and when my husband called at the end of the service for people to come forward and give their life to Christ - these two men led the way.
I may have been in over my head, but I was always under His wings, where I witnessed that “God’s kindness (gentleness) is intended to lead to repentance.” (Romans 2:4, Christian Standard Bible)
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