Struggles and Relationships

We all go through struggles. Each and every one of us. Some greater struggles and some lesser struggles, but they take a toll on us in someway. Do we pity others for their struggles? Why should we when everyone has them. The person who should be pitied is the person who feels like they are alone.

The architecture at the Seminary in Fort Wayne focuses on two of our relationships. Relationships with others and relationship with God. The buildings are made out of diamond shape bricks -- Concordia Brick. In the dorms, classroom buildings, cafeteria, and commons the bricks are laid horizontally. Showing man's relationship with man. But in the chapel they are vertical, showing man's relationship with God.

--I never really liked the phrasing. What does it mean to have a relationship with God, many people probably don't think it means the same thing as I do. My relationship with God is all his doing, His Baptizing me into His Death and Resurrection. Him coming to me in the Divine service. His Spirit entering me to open my lips and declare His praise from my body . His putting Truth, Forgiveness of Sins, and Eternal life into my mouth. My praise isn't worthy. I can do nothing that is worthy. The only reason I am considered worthy is because God sees me through His perfect Son's Blood.---

Our relationships with other people do matter. These people we will be spending eternity with. We are here to help others, to love them, to forgive them. Christ focuses a lot on how we are to treat one another in his teachings. Love your neighbor as yourself. We can't do that perfectly. We will covet our neighbors possessions, tell lies about him, and even murder him be it with words or actions. If we do all that is our Salvation in jeopardy of course not. It's permissible but is it beneficial. Why do we keep parts of the Law? Our salvation isn't based on it. We do it because it benefits us and others. We feel good when we do something kind for someone else. At least I do. If we shut everyone out and are mean to everyone. Who will be there when need someone? Does that mean you can't dislike someone even to the point of hate? I don't like a lot of people. Those feelings don't mean anything. "I could hate you today and love you tomorrow. Those feelings don't mean anything they will die with me. If I love you in Christ, that is eternal. - Pr Dreyer

Now, to our Relationship with God. There are many songs even hymns that talk about how everything will be all right if we do this or that to God. Our struggles will be gone if we pray about them. When in actuality, when we do pray about our hardships or struggles how often is the answer no, not now, or I have a different plan for you? More often then we would like it to be. Do not be discouraged though. Throughout everything you do there will be struggle, but we are blessed with a far better comfort then any struggle we encounter. That comfort is Christ on the Cross. Christ's mangled, bloody, body is what give us forgiveness from the blackness covering us-- our sin. From that broken body of Christ also comes our white garments so that we are not naked. These white garments are the water that washed us clean at our baptism and the broken body itself with the blood that came out of its side with the water. The flesh that the Word became. The sacraments that come from that Word are the greatest comforts we have. To the world this seems foolish, but God chose what is foolish to shame the wise. He chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. He chose what is low and despised in the world even things that are not, to bring nothing things that are. So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (I Cor. 1:27-29) This worldly foolishness, our comfort, comes from God the source of our life in Christ. Whom God made our wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (I Cor. 1:30)

What greater comfort is there than that? Not drugs or alcohol. They just drive you deeper into breaking the relationships you have with others and breaking the relationship God has instituted with you. Struggles will come and go but know that you are not alone. Share it with ones you trust. Your pastor is a great person to talk to. If you feel lonely surround yourself with others and build relationships with them. Also, do pray about them. Pray that the Lord will help you through them. When you pray focus on the cross, that great comfort of ours.

The Lord be with you all in your struggles and in times of peace.

Pax Christi