Misfortune

 "Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.”

— Job 12:5

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

It’s easy to have contempt for the broken, hurting, and marginalized when everything is going well for me. As if their pain and misfortune is their own fault and they’ve brought it upon themselves. I have to remember that we live in a fallen world where we are impacted by the brokenness of this world and the sins of others as well as our own sin. I have to remember that God is sovereign and there is a mystery behind His ways. Most of all, I have to remember that the Lord is gracious and compassionate and I am called to bring His compassion to others.

Lord Jesus, Matthew 9:36 comes to mind, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” You were moved with compassion when You saw the hurting and broken people. Lord, may I never be so at ease that I am unmoved by the hurting and broken. I fear that this happens too often. Driving past a homeless man with a sign. Seeing disheveled people in a store or walking along a street. Hearing about the misfortune that has come once again to someone whose life always seems to falling apart.

Lord, forgive me for the contempt I’ve held toward the broken and hurting around me. May I be moved with compassion—Your compassion—when I encounter pain, misfortune, and tragedy today. May I be moved with Your compassion when I see the broken and hurting, the harassed and helpless. May I be moved with Your compassion to lead those whose feet are slipping to the Shepherd who will catch them.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

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