Deadly Secrets

Loved ones who are seemingly happy on the outside and have everything in life going for them are sometimes the most broken people you know; take as an example actor and comedian, Robin Williams. He made millions of people laugh, but tragically was so broken on the inside to the point he saw no other way out but to end his life. Sometimes there are absolutely no signs that the person is suffering great inner turmoil and other times, there are signs everywhere that get ignored or go unnoticed by those around them who are either too busy or uncaring to get involved.

Christ often reached out to those who were suffering great inner turmoil, and were too afraid or unable to express what they were going through on the inside. Christ had compassion for the suffering, even for those who were deemed “untouchables” by society at that time, and so should we. So, who are the “untouchables” in our society that we should be reaching out to? Those who look different than we do, the dirty, smelly, poor, unattractive, or the one who is always alone off in the corner with their head hung low? Or how about those who are covered in tattoos and piercings and maybe even look scary to us, so we do not approach them? What about the quiet cleaning lady who comes late in the day when most of the employees have left for the day and probably goes unnoticed? Sometimes people put on a very tough exterior so as not to get hurt, but inside they are wasting away emotionally. They may smile or nod at those who walk by, but inside their heart is aching for someone to just notice them and speak a few kind, genuine words to them.

What if, instead, we were the ones on that end of the table…the one who goes unnoticed as we ache on the inside just hoping that we can reach out to someone, anyone, who will really listen to us? How would we want someone to treat us? Some of these people who quietly suffer inside do not know Christ as their personal savior, Lord and friend. We must show them Christ by loving them at their lowest. We may be the only “Bible” that some of these people ever “read.” Thankfully, we know that we have the Lord on our side, who is always there to comfort us in our troubles. II Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in ALL our troubles, SO THAT we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (NIV) As wonderful as that is, however, we still need other people too. We are His hands and feet to show others the same love and comfort that He has given us when they need it in their troubles. Undoubtedly, God created us for relationships on earth.

Noticing the lonely, broken or “underdog” type may not come naturally to some people like it does to me. I purposely search out those people and start by acknowledging them with a smile, a hello or even a handshake or small compliment (this means nothing if artificial; it must be genuine, of course!) You never know whose life you are going to save or change for the better by one small act or word that comes from your heart!

For 40 years, I struggled with feeling like I had no purpose here and have spent considerable time in prayer asking God to show me what my purpose was. It has been difficult because I am one of those who dreams big and plays hard, works hard and loves hard. One of my biggest desires has been to change the world. However, it seems as if everything I have done has been for nothing or gets unnoticed. A few years ago, however, God showed me that the “ministry of acknowledgment” is vitally important; that is, to just simply acknowledge and show love to those who may not ever get noticed. Many of these people are hurting tremendously on the inside and I know, because I have been one of those people for years. I never realized that what I had been doing all along was viewed as a very important ministry in the eyes of God. Remember, anything done out of kindness, compassion or love never truly goes unnoticed. If you too feel like nothing you ever do gets noticed, try to view it from a different perspective. If you make a difference in someone’s life, you have made a huge difference.

I may not be the world-changer I longed to be, but I still have a purpose and plan to carry it out, no matter how small, and now I am encouraged to do this to the best of my ability. Sometimes, small = huge in God’s eyes, so do whatever it is He is calling you to do no matter how small it is. The God of the impossible can do mighty things through our obedience in doing the small things.