I cannot, but I know I CAN

I am in a major (social work) that I love but seems to consistently break my heart. We are out to solve social problems. So from day to day, hour to hour, class to class, all I hear about are the problems of this dirty and broken world. There's rape, addiction, physical abuse, sexual assault, molestation, poverty, injustice, hunger, disease, mental illness, suicide, homosexuality, abortion... these and more that consume my class time and eventually my mind. It has forced me into the word. It has forced me into truth. It has forced me to the One who works all things together for good. It has led to questions. It has led to doubts. It has lead to frustration. It has lead to brokenness. However, all these things have led to our amazingly sovereign and faithful God. Here's my thought path and peace today...

The Lord spoke to me the exact words he spoke to Joshua.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (success that I desire is offering peace and salvation) Do not let this Book of the Law (now, Jesus and his commands) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  1:6-9.

Then the Lord continued to instruct me by the words Joshua gave to lead his servants:

"...you are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them... (salvation)"   1:14-15.    Hmm... so when do we stop caring and helping?? 

2 Corinthians led me to journal this which I feel is adequate to share:

The comfort I find in Christ can be used to overflow and comfort others. When I am comforted, it produces patient endurance in others who are around me. In my heart, I DO feel their pain and the death they experience without Jesus. This feeling in my heart happens SO THAT I might not rely on myself but on GOD, who raises the dead! I realize that without feeling this hurt and death in my own heart, I would feel able to do or heal others. But since it impacts me, too- I realize that I can't heal them. I can't help them. I can't solve these problems. I can't stop pain. I can't change lives. I can't explain evil. I can't take back what has happened. I can't ensure a future. I can't offer hope. When my heart aches, I realize that I, too am vulnerable, frustrated, and weak BUT...

 I KNOW A GOD WHO CAN. He can! He can heal a victim of rape. He can be a parent to these orphans. He can replace substance addiction with an addiction to Himself. He can provide food and shelter. He can stop violence. He can comfort those abused. He can say the right things at the right time. He can love the widow and the abandoned. He can right the wrongs. He can work it all together for good. He can provide answers and reason. He can establish peace in the depths of Hell. He can promise hope. He can ensure an eternity where there is NO MORE hurt, pain, injustice, or social problems.  

And...

HE LIVES IN ME. 

Therefore...

I CAN.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."   Philippians 4:13