Together, we have faith

May 2, 2024

Caring for the “Feeble-Minded”

Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:1; Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 9:22

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people'; and this special one in particular, 'Comfort the

feeble-minded, support the weak.' The feeble-minded, here referred to as needing comfort, are not the intellectually feeble, but rather those who, by reason of persecution, or bereavement, or buffeting temptation, have become disheartened and desponding, and ready to say, 'Will the Lord be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? ... hath he forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?' The very strongest sometimes have their seasons of feebleness and fainting, when a word of comfort even from humblest lips is peculiarly cheering.”

Caring for the “feeble-minded.” Modern translations of the Bible use the word “weak” for “feeble-minded.” The point is there are always among us in the body of Christ those people who at times are “weak” in terms of life and health and emotional stability and spiritual wellness. My wife and I are part of a small group where we have a “weak” person always needing our help and support and prayers. The circumstances of her personal and family life have made her one of the “weak” ones in the body of Christ who needs our aid. Perhaps you know a few of those people in your circles. Jesus calls us to honor those parts of the body that seem “feeble minded.” The apostle Paul tells us the same thing in outlining the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. Remember to care for the weak!

A Puritan Prayer —

“O Lord,

Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible, 

Order things that they may neither hinder, nor discourage me, 

nor prove obstacles to the progress of thy cause; 

Stand between me and all strife, that no evil befall, 

no sin corrupt my gifts, zeal, attainments; 

May I follow duty and not any foolish device of my own; 

Permit me not to labour at work which thou wilt not bless, 

that I may serve thee without disgrace or debt; 

Let me dwell in thy most secret place under thy shadow, 

where is safe impenetrable protection from the arrow that flieth by day, 

the pestilence that walketh in darkness, the strife of tongues, 

the malice of ill-will, the hurt of unkind talk, the snares of company, 

the perils of youth, the temptations of middle life, the mournings of old age, 

the fear of death. 

I am entirely dependent upon thee for support, counsel, consolation. 

Uphold me by thy free Spirit, 

and may I not think it enough to be preserved from falling, 

but may I always go forward, 

always abounding in the work thou givest me to do. 

Strengthen me by thy Spirit in my inner self for every purpose of my Christian life. 

All my jewels I give to the shadow of the safety that is in thee—

my name anew in Christ, my body, soul, talents, character, 

my success, wife, children, friends, work, my present, my future, my end. 

Take them, they are thine, and I am thine, now and for ever.”