Helpless???

An observation that has occurred to me is how "self" absorbed I can become. In the fall I felt the Lord was asking me to step back from local church youth ministry for a spell and eventually that is what I did. I believe this step of obedience was good, but at times during this break I have caught myself dwelling on my issues as if no one else around me was hurting. Could part of my willingness to step back be because it is tough to be there or feel like I have to be there? Ouch!!!

What got me to thinking about this has been an instance of me trying to be there for someone as of late. It has been amazing to be able to be there and pray with them, but it is painful when I leave these moments and the enemy still seems to have a hay day with this person. Part of me (well most, okay all of me) wishes that I could say the magic words to make peoples struggles go away and they could live strong and unfazed by satan's attacks. It really causes me to feel very helpless. This is humbling. Perhaps it is the man in me, but I wish I could fix everyone's problems and leave feeling like it will all be okay. Yet this is not the case. So without knowing fully what next to say or even what I should say, I guess I cling to this verse and live it:

I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
Psalm 121

Funny post yet to come, but someday i promise...