Why It’s Not Easy To Help Someone Who Is Lost

It’s not easy to help those who are lost.

I know because I’ve been one, and at times, I still feel as though I’m but a lost sheep struggling to find the right path again.

When I’m struggling like that, I’m not the most pleasant person to be with. I’m not the easiest one to talk to either.

I hurt, I become afraid, and I may have some disappointing outbursts of anger that can erupt out of nowhere.

Being lost is just that. Wanting to do the right thing but not being able to. Desiring with all my heart to be a nice and kind person, and failing to do that again and again.

It’s not easy to help someone like that.

It’s not easy to find the right words. And it’s never easy to stay when you know you could get hurt as well.

But those who succeed in helping lost people bear some semblance with the Good Shepherd.

Despite another person’s sin, He is not easily disheartened.

He reaches out, He forgives, and He does not easy condemn.

He may have all the right in the world to be offended and to turn away, but He does not.

Instead of walking away, He stays. Instead of protecting His feelings, He bears my many faults.

And I guess that’s pretty much the substance of how He saved the world.

He knew that coming down here to live among us would be difficult. He knew how much it would hurt. But He still chose to do it.

He chose to come where we are. He chose to accept the most painful sufferings.

Because that’s what it means to love.

And when you’re lost, that’s what you truly need the most.

“For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want… Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with my mind, serve the law of God but, with my flesh, the law of sin. (Romans 7:18-19, 24-25, NABRE)

Jocelyn Soriano works full-time as a Catholic writer to share the word of God and invite everyone to take refuge in God’s truth and love.

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