Some days, it hurts.

There is not one day that is the same. In order to do what I do, I have to have some face time with God every day or else I go into my  unprepared. I grew up hearing about this so-called armor of God, but now can honestly say that if I don't gear up each day, I will fall short doing what I do. Maybe not in the way that you think I mean, because I can petition for people as long as the day is long, and I can listen to their stories of heartbreak until the sun goes down, but to truly love them I must see them as God does.

There are days where I celebrate. A displaced worker started a new job and now he can support his family;   a formerly homeless veteran just took possession of the keys to his new apartment; a  mom was finally reunified with her kids after a hard battle with alcohol addiction.

These days, I celebrate.

But then there are days like today, where I literally cry with these brothers and sisters. When I hear about the things that happened to them while they were in childhood and then remember that monsters do exist. Or the desperation in their voices when they call to tell me that the job didn't work out and the memory of the looks on their kids' faces sweep across my mind as I remember what it was like the first time they learned that they didn't have a home. Or the client that tells me that she thought about killing herself last night because she felt like the fight was too hard to keep trying.

But...God.

My heart cries from a place that says,"Yes, I hear you. Yes, I will try for you. Yes, I will carry this burden because I know what it is like for someone to carry my burden and when you realize that my love for you is great because His love is greater, then you will understand."


And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Exodus 33:19