Verse of the Day


"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

~II Corinthians 1:3-4


Today's Devotional Thought

May 10, 2012 by Rachel Piferi



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I Love You

I think one of the hardest things in relationships is when someone you love is hurting and you just don't know what to do to help. Whether it is your child, your spouse, your friend, or fellow believers at your church, it can be so paralyzing when someone you love hurts. What do you do? How much do you say? When do you give them space? When do you jump in and send them a Bible verse? When do you stop talking about it and pray that they find some way through it?

I know that I have played it wrong sometimes with people I love. Sometimes, I have given someone I loved space to work on it with the Lord and it made them feel like I didn't care. At other times, I have kicked it into overdrive and smothered them with Biblical principles in hopes that the perfect verse would ignite their recovery, only to find that I was annoying them with my attempts at encouragement. And still other times, I have said the wrong thing that didn't help at all.

So what do you do?

I attended Women of Faith last year and at this conference, Patsy Clairmont shared the story of her son's recent battle with the H1N1 virus. His prognosis was very poor and he spent many days in a coma as the doctors wondered if he would survive. It was a dire situation. I am sure her friends were paralyzed as they watched someone they loved going through a horrible situation. They were likely so overcome with love and concern for her and wanted nothing more than for her to not hurt. But, there was really nothing they could do in this situation. She was facing the very real possibility of losing her son and that was simply going to hurt, no matter how many times someone sent the 23rd Psalm to her.

Do you know what she said helped her the most during this time period? She said the thing that helped the most is when Mary Graham, president of Women of Faith, just texted her three simple words: "I love you." She didn't send her familiar verses of comfort or try to preach Patsy out of her sadness. She just loved her as she waited for God to work.

I find such strength in those three words. When I am hurting, sometimes all I want is to feel loved. And when others are hurting, as much as I want to help them get through the pain, I have to remember to just love them and pray as God comforts them.

Do you know someone today who is hurting? Just acknowledge their struggle today and tell them you love them, that you are there for them if they need you, but that you will let God work as only He can.

I love you. Three simple words. But so powerful when we are hurting.


Memorize this verse today:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
~II Corinthians 1:3-4



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