The Heaviness of Homelessness

“I hate the thought of dying alone,” he said as we parted ways.

Last week, while out on street outreach, we met one of our street friends who has been living on the streets for some time now. We stopped, chatted for a while, and listened. We listened as he shared some of the weight of his story; his loneliness, the rejection he has faced, health issues and the deep hurt and hopelessness he carries.

As I listened, I silently asked God, “What can we say? How can we help encourage and give hope to this man you have placed in front of us? God, please meet him in this place, in our conversation. Please give hope to this man.” 

As the conversation continued, I was reminded again and again that Jesus is the only one who can truly heal and restore. In a world filled with so much brokenness and pain, He is our only true hope. We shared a few words of encouragement and tried to point him toward Jesus.

When we walked away, we were quiet, heavy with the weight of what we had heard, trying to imagine what life must feel like in his shoes. His final words lingered with us.

Reflecting on this interaction, I am thankful for the opportunity and privilege that OIM has to come alongside our street friends and be a friendly face, a listening ear and a source of encouragement. And I pray that God will use our presence and our words to touch this man’s life in a meaningful way. And not just his, but the lives of all those we encounter each day.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5,6

~Phoebe, Resource Coordinator