Today I met with a group of pastors from the area that all wrestle with the same ongoing challenge: how to provide long term care for people who find themselves in difficult situations of physical, relational or emotional hardship.
Its one thing to care for someone when they go through a short term immediate crisis, but the situation becomes substantially more complex when such things become prolonged.
The fact of the matter is that most short term crisis do become long term issues. If the issue was serious enough to be called a "crisis" it often has lingering affects which may take months or even years to fully heal.
The problem is not that we don't care about the individuals, the problem is that we find it difficult to express that care in an ongoing way that meets the changing needs and seasons of the ones that are afflicted.
A system has to be in place where people are accountable to provide a touchpoint of care but to be honest, they must also have a passion to do so. Care without a heart for it becomes nothing more than a cold and obligatory phone call. On the other hand, a compassionate person is energized by being Jesus to those who are in a situation of extended afflication, struggle or need.
The hope that we have as we enter a new year is that we can ask God for breakthrough and even full release from such circumstance while we are yet extending that care. It's often through the hands of the care giver that faith is released and deliverance is received!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
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