Devot. 5 Ways to Show You Care/ Lifting Up a Grieving Friend

Hi Folks,

I hope you had a good weekend! 

 

Our topic for this week is how to help someone who is hurting, either through your actions or you words.  For someone that has, for instance, lost loved one, what can you say or do to show them that you care for them?

 

I know for myself, sometimes I am very awkward with how I express that I care.  Sometimes I feel that maybe I didn't say the right thing, I said too much or did not acknowledge their loss as adequately as I should have. At times it's difficult to know how to respond appropriately and genuinely when someone is hurting.

There is a verse  in Hebrews 4:15 that has been a comfort to me.  The contact is speaking of Jesus Himself and it says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."  

 

The Lord Jesus Himself can understand and sympathize with those who are hurting, because He took on a body of flesh while on this earth )while still retaining 100% of His deity and never sinning once).  So He understands what pain and loss feels like.    

 

The one verse we find in Scripture that shows Jesus crying is in John 11.   Jesus had just received word that His very dear friend, Lazarus, had just died.  And even though Jesus knew He would raise Him from the dead. in a short space of time (Jn. 11:4), He still wept over this loss because He had loved His friend so much (11:35).   

So the Lord understands human loss and grief.

Psalm 56:8, speaking again of the Lord says, "You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?"   God numbers and keeps track of each tear we cry, they do not go unnoticed.  

 

The same God who does this said in Matthew 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a [i]copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

 

If you are hurting today, or hurting for someone you know, your pain and their pain does not go unnoticed by God.  He sees it all, understands and knows who you feel because He has felt pain and loss as well. 

Please remember our 9/11 Families this week in your prayers.   I think I remember saying last year that these previous families may not have had a chance to grieve and bring closure to their loss because it is bring to their memory and national attention each year. Yes, we should remember these brave souls and all who were involved in and affected by 9/11, but it does't give those who have lost closure to their loss.  Their loss is an open wound that is never fully allowed to heal because the wound is opened each year. 

Please pray for God's peace and comfort for these dear folks this week.  

 

Lord bless you and your this week.

(Read and Share Devots. taken from https://www.dayspring.com/articles/)

5 Ways to Show You Care: https://www.dayspring.com/articles/5-ways-to-show-you-care?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20190904WaystoShowYouCareDuringDifficultTimesArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

Lifting Up a Grieving Friend:  https://www.dayspring.com/articles/lifting-up-a-grieving-friend?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20190904WaystoShowYouCareDuringDifficultTimesArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List