“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3

Over the last several months, I’ve adopted a type of response to a certain question that we all get asked daily: “How are you doing?”

The typical response is either ‘fine’ or ‘not-so-good,’ or any number of different responses.

My typical response lately is, “Sometimes good.”

Most people agree with this response because it is more realistic. But then sometimes someone will say, “You’re not good now?”

Well, after I say my response, then I’ve already left without giving yet another response to the question.

You see, I think people say “How are you doing” oftentimes without even really wanting a response. Some however, think that everything should always be bright and shining.

We are supposed to somehow always be happy and joyous no matter what the situation is. Well frankly, I discount this reaction simply because it isn’t realistic and it actually it is quite shallow.

Even Jesus Himself was considered as ‘a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.’ And if we are to identify with Him, then we certainly are allowed to be sorrowful or acquainted with grief at times.

Yes indeed, we are to be thankful and joyful, but to be expected to be like this at all times, is neither humane, realistic, or compassionate. It lacks understanding of the human condition.

Another response I’m sure we’ve all heard at times is the phrase, “I’m vertical.”

Well, I’ll tell you that there’s a lot of yardage between the notion of just being “vertical” with being “horizontal.” And by saying “horizontal,” I mean of course — being dead.

Truly, we can overcome how we feel about a certain situation or misfortune that we have experienced.

We can learn to accept the things that we cannot change, and then to find a way to rise above those circumstances and think on other positive things. But of course this is much easier to say than to do.

My hope is that perhaps some of us can adopt more realistic greetings as we approach our fellow man.

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to The LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?
Stephen is a full-time Artist of original architectural, landscape, portrait, still-life and spiritual oil paintings, available at StephenHansonArtist.com

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