Yesterday evening when I was at our “Longing for His Glory” service/meeting in the barn at Grimerud (more like an ex-barn, as there are no longer cows there- which makes it a lot more agreeable to be in for a worship-service I am sure!), I felt a bit of God’s heart for people.
The meeting was fine, although I found it hard to really focus on what was going on and I felt kind of distracted by nothing in particular (sometimes that’s just the way it is, and I am sure I’m not the only one who’s had days like that). Towards the end of the preaching there were a few people who were on their way to leave. They seemed a bit agitated, and were not your “typical” churchgoers. I decided to go and at least make a point out of saying that it was nice they had come, and acknowledge them. I discreetly strolled to the back near the door, and kind of “hung around”. As they came towards me, the man approached me straight away and asked me what the name of this place was, because he wanted to call a taxi. I responded, and then asked him what his name was, and I also asked the girl who was with him. When I put out my hand and said it was good to see them, he gave me a hug, and so I hugged him back, and also gave the girl a hug.
Seems like they had recently become Christians, but the vacant look in their eyes, and the agitation told me that there was more to their lives than that. The guy struck me as a really tough guy who had fended for himself for a long time (and probably still does), and has a lot of anger stored up. The girl only 22 years old was so completely lost. When I spoke to her she didn’t seem quite with it, and when I looked her in the eyes and asked her to take care of herself because she is valuable and precious, there was a flicker of something in her look. Maybe a longing to believe it, I don’t know. It was good to be able to tell them with sincerity and a heart filled with God’s compassion that they were welcome!
Before they headed off I was allowed to pray with them. It was a short prayer, but I felt so privileged to be able to look them in the eyes and declare God’s love and His promises and purpose over them. And ask for Him to give them Peace. Peace that passes all understanding; Peace that comes when we give everything to God.
It messed with my heart to have encountered them. To meet people lost in this way right here in Norway; a country famous for taking such good care of people. And yet, even with the “systems” up and running and apparently functioning, people like these fall through the cracks and there is space for evil to destroy lives. I suppose it’s not really because of “societal cracks” being fallen into, but rather the fact that we live in a fallen world full of evil. A world where the only hope is Jesus.
I don’t know if I will ever see these two again. But if I do, I will greet them by name, and I will do what I can to show them value and point them to the Jesus who accepts, finds, restores, and who is the Truth that sets free and brings Hope to a messed up world.
The meeting was fine, although I found it hard to really focus on what was going on and I felt kind of distracted by nothing in particular (sometimes that’s just the way it is, and I am sure I’m not the only one who’s had days like that). Towards the end of the preaching there were a few people who were on their way to leave. They seemed a bit agitated, and were not your “typical” churchgoers. I decided to go and at least make a point out of saying that it was nice they had come, and acknowledge them. I discreetly strolled to the back near the door, and kind of “hung around”. As they came towards me, the man approached me straight away and asked me what the name of this place was, because he wanted to call a taxi. I responded, and then asked him what his name was, and I also asked the girl who was with him. When I put out my hand and said it was good to see them, he gave me a hug, and so I hugged him back, and also gave the girl a hug.
Seems like they had recently become Christians, but the vacant look in their eyes, and the agitation told me that there was more to their lives than that. The guy struck me as a really tough guy who had fended for himself for a long time (and probably still does), and has a lot of anger stored up. The girl only 22 years old was so completely lost. When I spoke to her she didn’t seem quite with it, and when I looked her in the eyes and asked her to take care of herself because she is valuable and precious, there was a flicker of something in her look. Maybe a longing to believe it, I don’t know. It was good to be able to tell them with sincerity and a heart filled with God’s compassion that they were welcome!
Before they headed off I was allowed to pray with them. It was a short prayer, but I felt so privileged to be able to look them in the eyes and declare God’s love and His promises and purpose over them. And ask for Him to give them Peace. Peace that passes all understanding; Peace that comes when we give everything to God.
It messed with my heart to have encountered them. To meet people lost in this way right here in Norway; a country famous for taking such good care of people. And yet, even with the “systems” up and running and apparently functioning, people like these fall through the cracks and there is space for evil to destroy lives. I suppose it’s not really because of “societal cracks” being fallen into, but rather the fact that we live in a fallen world full of evil. A world where the only hope is Jesus.
I don’t know if I will ever see these two again. But if I do, I will greet them by name, and I will do what I can to show them value and point them to the Jesus who accepts, finds, restores, and who is the Truth that sets free and brings Hope to a messed up world.