Reach Out

I hope you’re having an awesome day today.  In fact, I hope this awesome day is just one part of an awesome week for you!

That's a pretty optimistic statement, I guess.  Well, I try to be an optimist.  I think it's the best way to be.  One of my favorite Doctor Who quotes is when the Doctor says, “I am and always will be the optimist.  The hoper of far-flung hopes.  The dreamer of improbable dreams.”

I think that’s a good way to go through life.  Certainly, we should not lose touch with reality, but the only way we can accomplish things is we believe they are possible in the first place.  If we think things will go right, well, maybe they will.  If we convince ourselves things can't possibly go right, well, they almost certainly won't.  That's just kind of the way life works.

Still, I know that sometimes it's hard to be optimistic.  Sometimes things go wrong, and sometimes they stay wrong for a while.  Sometimes, it’s a pretty long while.  If things stay wrong long enough, it's hard to convince ourselves that they'll eventually go right.  If things stay wrong long enough, we start to think they'll never go right again.

I understand that.  I’ve been there.  The thing is, God understands it, too.  God understands how hard that can be.  But God is always there with us.  God is there in those times when things go wrong, and eventually, God will help them start to go right again.  Just hang in there.  Don't give up.  Things will get better, if we just don't lose our trust in God.  Remember, with God, all things are possible.  Nothing is too hard for God.

But one other thing, too.  If things are going wrong, don't suffer alone.  Don't suffer in silence.  Reach out to people.  Reach out to your friends.  Reach out to your church.  Reach out to your pastor.  We may or may not be able to help, but we can at least let you know you're not alone.  We can let you know that, no matter how bad things are, there are at least people who love you and care about you and want to help.

No one is supposed to try to get through life alone.  That’s why God put us into families and into communities—so that we would not have to go through life by ourselves.  Even Jesus didn't try to get through life by himself.  He sought out people to be with him.  If Jesus needed to have people around him, you and I certainly do.

There are people who are here for you.  We are here for you.  All you need to do is let us know when you need us.  Never think it’s too much trouble.  Never think you’ll be bothering us.  We want to help you.  And there will be times when we need you to help us, too.

We all need help to stay optimistic.  So don’t be afraid to reach out.  And have an awesome week!