Flaky people

[Anonymous]

These people claimed they lost many items at their house fire. They requested clothes as well, so I told them I will have clothes for them and took a couple hours searching closets and drawers and asked for their phone number to better connect with them tomorrow and they have not responded. Wow! This will be the last time I ever try to help anyone anymore as no one can be trusted. They really need you Jesus

 

[Articles]

We hear the deep frustration and hurt in your words, and we understand how disheartening it can be when kindness is met with indifference or ingratitude. It’s painful to extend a hand in love, only to feel it brushed aside. But we want to gently remind you that your willingness to help, even when it feels unappreciated, is a reflection of Christ’s love in you. Jesus Himself faced rejection and ungratefulness, yet He continued to serve and sacrifice. In Luke 6:35, He tells us, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil."

This experience does not define your heart for service, nor does it mean no one can be trusted. It simply means this particular situation did not unfold as you hoped. We must guard our hearts against bitterness, for Hebrews 12:15 warns, "Looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it." Instead, let us entrust this disappointment to the Lord, asking Him to soften the hearts of those involved, whether they truly needed help or were misusing your generosity.

We also want to encourage you not to close your heart to future opportunities to serve. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, "Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up." Your act of gathering clothes and reaching out was not in vain. The Lord sees your obedience, and He will honor it. Perhaps this was a test of your own heart, to see if you would continue to love even when it’s difficult. Jesus said in Matthew 5:46-47, "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?" True Christlike love extends even when it’s not reciprocated.

Let us pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up our brother/sister who sought to show Your love through acts of kindness. Lord, we ask that You would heal the hurt and frustration that has come from feeling unappreciated. Remind them that their worth is not found in the response of others, but in their identity as Your beloved child. Help them to release any bitterness or resentment, and fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Father, we pray for the individuals who did not respond. If they were in genuine need, soften their hearts and open doors for them to receive help from those You have prepared. If this was a misuse of generosity, expose the truth and bring conviction where it is needed. Either way, Lord, we ask that You would work all things together for good, as You promise in Romans 8:28.

We also pray for a renewal of joy in serving others. Remind us that when we serve the least of these, we are serving You (Matthew 25:40). Guard our hearts against cynicism, and help us to love as You love, unconditionally and without expectation. May our actions always point others to You, and may we find our reward in Your presence alone.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

We encourage you to reflect on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which reminds us that love "suffers long and is kind; love doesn’t envy; love doesn’t parade itself, is not puffed up; doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Even in this situation, your love was evident. Do not let one experience harden your heart, but let it refine your trust in the Lord’s timing and purposes.

If you feel led, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to move forward, whether that means letting this go or seeking wisdom on how to approach similar situations in the future. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." The Lord will guide you as you continue to walk in obedience to Him.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how much this stung. You gave real time and effort sorting through closets and drawers, then heard nothing. That is discouraging, and it makes sense that you would want to pull back.

A house fire can leave people so overwhelmed that even necessary follow-up slips away. That may not fully explain the silence, but it reminds us not to take it only as a verdict on you. Your kindness was still real. It was not wasted just because the response never came.

For now, maybe wait a little before deciding that no one can be trusted. If the clothes continue to sit, consider passing them to your church or a local relief group that already has contact with families in need. That keeps your effort moving without requiring you to chase anyone further.

Jesus saw you gathering those things. He sees what you intended, and He also sees this family's real need. You do not have to carry the weight of making it all connect perfectly.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the care behind this act of service. Comfort the hurt that came with being ignored. Guard this person's heart from bitterness, and give wisdom about whether to reach out once more or to release the clothes elsewhere. Please meet the deep needs of this family, and keep this one's heart open to the good You still want to do through them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Those who told you of their loss and then fell silent have wounded your kindness, and your spirit is hot within you. You say this will be the last time you ever try to help anyone, for no one can be trusted. But I pray you, do not let the bad manners of men quench the mercy God has planted in your heart. Think of your own failures before the Lord. Have you never promised Him faithfulness and then grown slack? Have you never resolved to pray, and let the hour pass? Have you never spoken vows in trouble and forgotten them in ease? Yet the Lord has not said of you, This is the last time I will show mercy, for this one cannot be trusted. No, there is forgiveness with Him, full and free and present. It is not limited to a certain number of sins, nor shut up to a certain kind of sinner. It is broad, unlimited forgiveness, and it is found with God through Jesus Christ His Son.

If you have truly felt the bitterness of your own sin against Christ, that bitterness will take away your bitterness against your fellow men. Somebody has disappointed you, yes, but how often have you disappointed your Lord? You have been forgiven much; therefore you must be willing to forgive much, and to do good without demanding gratitude as your hire. Those clothes were gathered for Christ in the persons of the needy. If they come, give freely. If they never answer, your labour is not lost. The Lord saw the hours in the closets and drawers, and He can send another poor soul to receive what you have prepared.

They need Jesus, indeed, but you need Jesus also. Pray for them. Ask the Lord to give them repentance and faith, and ask Him to keep your own heart from growing hard. Do not say, No one can be trusted, as though the world were given over wholly to falsehood. Trust the Lord, who is faithful when men are not. There is forgiveness for you and for them. Let that whisper drive away your despair and your bitter resolve. Go on doing good. Do not grow weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not. There is forgiveness. Let it make you gentle, tender, and still ready to help.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Chrysostom]

You spent a couple hours gathering clothes and then heard nothing. That is a real wound. But do not make a vow that you will never help anyone again because one family went silent. That is pain speaking, not truth.

The Scriptures tell us not to grow weary in doing good. The Lord says, give to everyone who asks of you, and be merciful as your Father is merciful. Nothing makes us so like God as doing good. If you stop doing good because these people did not answer, your mercy was resting on their response, not on Christ. Their silence cannot cancel what you offered to God.

You may be right that they need Jesus. So do we all. And one of the ways they will ever see something of Jesus is through a Christian who does good even when gratitude does not come back. Do not let this turn you to hardness. Try one more kind message if you wish: the clothes are ready when you are. If they never respond, give those clothes to someone else who needs them. The clothing should not become a monument of bitterness.

Pray for them. And ask God to keep your own heart soft. The loss would be yours, not theirs, if you stopped being merciful.

 

[Silas]

Your disappointment is completely understandable. You gave generously of your time and your own belongings, you searched for hours wanting to help people who said they had lost so much, and then to be met with silence feels like rejection. It is natural to feel hurt and even angry when kindness seems to be taken for granted.

That hurt can quickly turn into something more dangerous if it is allowed to remain. When bitterness is held in the heart it does far more harm to the one who holds it than to the ones who caused it. Scripture warns to watch carefully that no root of bitterness grows up to trouble you and to affect many around you. One bitter experience can spread and color every future opportunity to show love if it is not dealt with before the Lord. The vow to never help anyone again is a sign that this root is trying to take hold.

Jesus taught that forgiveness is not a matter of keeping count. When Peter asked if forgiving seven times was enough, Jesus answered in a way that showed forgiveness is a matter of the spirit and the heart, not mathematics. He then told of a king who forgave a servant an enormous debt that could never be repaid, to show how much God has forgiven us in Christ. Because we have been forgiven so much, we are called to forgive others from the heart, with a tender and kind spirit, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. That kind of forgiveness is complete. It does not say I forgive but I will keep this to hold against you later. It releases the matter fully to God.

God does not ask you to do this in your own strength. He commands a forgiving heart and He will give you the ability if you are willing. Willingness is the key. You can honestly pray, Lord, I am hurt and I feel bitter, take this bitterness from me and give me Your spirit of forgiveness. He is faithful to answer that prayer and to cleanse the heart that is open to Him. Asking for forgiveness and also remembering how much we have been forgiven helps keep the heart soft.

It also helps to remember where our trust is to rest. People, even well meaning people, will disappoint us. If our hope is in the response of others we will be let down again and again. Our trust is to be in the Lord Himself. He sees what you did in love, He does not forget a cup of cold water given in His name, and He is the one who will sustain and reward you. When we trust in Him rather than in the strength or faithfulness of people, we can remain steady even when others are inconsistent.

That does not mean what you did was wasted. A servant heart that looks not only to its own interests but also to the needs of others reflects the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself to serve. God delights in that spirit. Do not let one painful experience close your heart to the way He wants to use you in the future. Continue to be kind and tenderhearted, to do good as He leads you, with wisdom and with boundaries, but with a heart that remains open.

May the Lord heal this hurt, lift this disappointment from you, and fill you with His peace. May He take away any bitterness and give you a forgiving spirit, and may He use your willing and compassionate heart to show the beauty of Jesus to others who truly need hope.