What do you say to a hurting brother or sister in Christ? Can there be any comforting words? As we take a look back on unwanted circumstances in our life we are left wondering if any words that come our of our mouths are worth saying. Well, the best course of action is always to look to God for help. Most believers when they are going through a grieving process, just want to know someone is there. It is obvious to them
that God is near because He says in 1 Corinthians 15:19-20 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." It is a comforting thought of the hope we have in Christ. There really is nothing like this hope. Thoughts of why now or why this person run through the minds of those going through any particular circumstance, but sometimes it is not a question that can be answered or even needs to be answered. Notice what Philippians 1:20 says, "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." Sometimes a quick hug or the phrase, I'm praying for you is what it takes to make the one grieving know that you are there for them. When my father passed away in 1980, I remember my mother saying that the most comforting thing that she ever received wasn't a gift of money or of food. It was the prayers that went up for her and her two boys. When you say you're going to pray...then pray! Pray for God's grace in their life and in the lives of all those involved. The thing that stuck with me from a thank you from Pastor Chuck Phelps whose son and daughter-in-law were killed in a bus accident last year said this, "Most importantly, we thank God for your prayers. They are sustaining us in ways inexplicable and undeniable." Want to comfort someone who is hurting? Then let them know you are praying. Makes all the difference in the world.
"Comfort?"
Most people think that urgent things are important, or that urgent things are always important. Well, let’s bring a little bit of distinction between important and urgent. Because urgent things are not always important. There is a difference. Here are some examples: In a Business, calming an angry customer is urgent, but building systems that keep customers from getting angry might be important. Getting your car engine repaired is urgent, but changing the oil so it doesn’t need to be repaired in important. Getting help when you are sick is urgent, but taking care of yourself so you don’t get sick is important. If you do important—you won’t have as many things that are urgent. Choose important over urgent. Jesus’ interaction with Martha and Mary teaches us the priority of choosing important over urgent. I believe the issue was not who was doing what, but what kind of relationship Martha had with Jesus. What we must point out is that Jesus wasn't rebuking her for her service. He was rebuking her for her attitude towards Mary who was listening to Jesus' words. Jesus did not say that Mary made a “better choice.” Instead, he said, “Mary has chosen that good part.” Jesus was making a comparison here. It is good to love Jesus by serving him, as Martha did, but it is better to love Jesus by listening to him as Mary did. I think we need to understand that service is essential in every believer’s life, but more important is our spending time with Jesus. And we do so by spending time in the word of God. It is by spending time in the word of God that we learn how Jesus wants us to serve him. I believe that Satan will often use busyness to make us forget "that good part." Just a thought!
