God supports the afflicted and "outsiders"

Hi everyone, there are people in life who consider themselves to be on the fringe on the outside due to one reason or another. Sometimes this may be temporary, they are a part of society-but may be not feel included enough. Some people who feel like this may be in poverty or have a severe illness or condition and feel not included enough by the rest of the community.

God today is more of a non interventionist God than we saw in the Old Testament when he led his chosen people who were the Israelites at that time through prophets . Today some of the suffering that we see in the world is the result of it being end times. The suffering that we see some of this can be end times suffering that is written about in (Matthew 24) and in the Book of Revelations. These things need to come to pass in the world, but we can still do what we can to help others during this time like giving what we can afford to charities that support these people in need or by praying for them, (Psalm 46) is a good prayer to support peace. Also corruption in the world causes suffering as well which God is not responsible for.

God supports people today primarily in their personal lives with the Holy Spirit and leaves governments to lead public life and we are told in the New Testament to follow generally our governments laws (Romans 13:1-7).

Jesus said we should have a space for more uncomely (more challenging) members of his body, which he is the head. (1 Corinthians 12:23-24). “And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.”

Psalm 72 tells us that God will support those who are afflicted and those without a mother or father as well it states in Psalm 27 "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." God has good intentions to us. Psalm 11 also states God is on the side of those who are oppressed. Psalm 139 speaks to us all, how God knows all of our ways and cares for each one of us and we are all equal before God as Galatians 3:28 states.

I will show you some examples how God has comforted people in great need to. Illness does not prove holiness and it also does not disprove holiness. In Pia Matthew's book God's Wildflowers documents 141 Saints, Blessed and Venerable, who experienced health challenges ranging from mental to physical pain whilst serving God in holiness. As the author states in this book. Illness doesn't prove holiness and neither destroys or causes holiness. Furthermore, although illness may make things challenging at times, illness doesn't cause these Saints, Blessed and Venerable, to be abandoned by God.

Christ can still perform healing today through the Holy Spirit, but that is dependent on God’s timing for someone, and his will for their lives. We all have different paths in life. You also usually need to show some commitment to God to receive this by doing Jesus’ commandments as he asked us to do. Not receiving healing or receiving healing does not mean that God loves you more or less than anybody else. At a point some people may need wisdom to understand that for now they need to manage a condition and that on New Earth they will be free from pain and this is Christ's promise to us.“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall be there any more pain: for the former things are passed" (Revelations 21).

One case is Saint Catherine of Siena who was a Saint who preserved and was given comfort despite her conditions. Catherine would pray to Christ and be comforted by him through the Holy Spirit.
Catherine existed in the 14th century at a time in the world when they was not any consultants and experts in the field of eating disorders. Catherine problems stemmed from her early youth when a forced marriage was almost forced upon her and she didn’t want this and she wanted to dedicate her service to Christ and she started to control her body to ward a suitor which was unwanted. Catherine didn’t have anorexia nervosa in those days and it is questionable if she would receive this diagnosis today or another eating disorder diagnosis. Despite her condition Jesus gave her a place in the church.

Today nuns priests and sisters are sent to treatment who have eating disorders like Sister Therese and you can find her story at the end of this article. It is Catherine’s great work in conflict resolution and her work for the church that should be well known about her. Catherine died from infirmity and a stroke and was made a Saint.

Saints to like Saint John of the Cross was a holy man who was afflicted at times by mental health and he would roll in mud or sometimes declare himself to be a great sinner and sell all of his possessions. John would be helped by others at times and taken to hospital for nutrition. He died and became a Saint.

There are Saints who were born without limbs who still dedicated their lives to God with their condition. Today Joni Eareckson Tada is disability rights speaker who has a strong faith in God and is diagnosed with quadriplegia. Joni gave a heartfelt Podcast on this here-

https://www.premier.plus/the-profile/podcasts/episodes/disability-rights-advocate-joni-eareckson-tada-on-the-sovereignty-of-god

I have felt like in exile at times, but God gave me joy and comfort through my faith and has taught me that I am enough as I am. I am diagnosed with autism and I know several others who have autism to who God supports through the Holy spirit like he has supported me with this.

Here are some of their comments-

1)" While still young, I chose to socially isolate, largely to avoid bullying, but I had also seen by then that I wasn't like everyone else, and I didn't want to always be acting like I was. This could have led to a very lonely life, but I also became a Christian while young. The Holy Spirit has been a constant companion and comforter and strengthener.

I believe this is the biggest factor that has kept autism from being as crushing as it seems to be for many people."

2) "For an autistic being filled with the Holy spirit is the best.
The bible says is helper and conforter, and that means the kindest friend.
What else an autistic would want, a sensitive person, friend all mighty that can accompany them.
We can be lonely people, an opportunity to know the Holy spirit, and give more time to know him"

I want to leave you with this quote- "Jesus often started with those who are marginalised and disadvantaged in some way. They are or can be Christ's missionary and can be Christ's missionaries to the world. Think of somebody poor in the spirit and holding the Cross who is dependent on Christ and this is great symbolism of the lamb Christ continuing to be being carried and with us today."

If you have any seen yourself as a bit of an outsider or the plight of these people moves you. You may like this song below from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It lightened my heart. Keep the hope alive. I wanted to share this song as well as the world is quite difficult at the moment and this is a feel good.