"Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."
(JOB 2:13)

Romans 12:15
What do we say to someone who is walking through the valley? The clichés we often write in condolence cards fall short. What helps someone in the midst of grief? Sometimes the best plan of action is silence. Sitting with a sufferer, as Job’s friends did, and letting time pass before words pass our lips, especially if they’re our own words, is often wise. I know of pastors who sat with grieving members of their congregation and read only large passages from Scripture and cried. If we must say words, maybe God’s words are better than ours.


Also it is often this way when we are suffering ourselves. We are utterly broken before we are even able to see any of God’s mercies. We were created with deep emotions, and to subdue them is to subdue what separates us from the beasts, what God gave us in our humanity. Subduing them also denies how bad evil is. Let us mourn before God and pray as Jesus did, “Lord, take this cup from me.” And if He won’t, let’s allow ourselves to grieve before our Father who loves us.



Scripture Focus

Romans 12:15

Insight

GOD INSTRUCTS US IN HIS WORD NOT TO NEGLECT GRIEF BUT TO GRIEVE AS THOSE WHO HOPE.

Bible In A Year

  • Isaiah 11-13
  • Psalm 77
  • John 18

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