Afflicting the Afflicted
A thought passed my mind this week as I read various responses on Facebook to statuses posted by hurting Christians who were facing serious health crises or were dealing with the loss of a loved one. While most responses were sympathetic in nature, some were rather strident in offering the advice to ‘buck up, grab your faith by the bootstraps and move on’. I probably shouldn’t mention the insensitive and rather lazy responses of some who merely clicked the ‘like’ link when a brokenhearted sister shared the grievous news of the sudden and tragic loss of her beloved brother. Wouldn’t a simple ‘sorry for your loss’ be more appropriate? But I digress.
When a person is grieving the loss of a loved one or the sudden loss of their health, that inner hurt is like an open wound. Although they may be quite resilient against careless remarks and slights when all is right in their world, while in that moment of crisis, they wince in pain at even the slightest of careless brushes against that wound.
What was Jesus’ response to those who came to him brokenhearted and in need of healing? Did he lecture them on their lack of faith as a reason why they were not yet healed? Did he give the families of those who he raised from the dead a pep talk on pushing past grief into victory before he raised the dead? No. Jesus rebuked his disciples on more than one occasion on their lack of faith but he always had a word of encouragement for those who came to him for healing. He wept with those who wept. He showed the love of His Father in practical ways to those who were hurting: healing the blind, cleansing the leper, making the lame to walk, forgiving the sins of the sinners and delivering those who were tormented by the evil one. He extended his grace to the weary and brought hope to the hopeless.
Until Next Week,
© 2012 Katherine Walden
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Considering all that has transpired in my life the past two months, Katherine, this post hits close to home and is right on. I pray that we would all be much more sensitive and have our responses be those of compassion, empathy and love that works through faith!
With the death of our son, my husband’s cancer diagnosis and my mother’s sudden death it has been very comforting to read the sincere condolences and a simple “sorry” truly does more for the heart than a click of a “like”. Thanks for telling it like it is and being a constant source of encouragement.
God bless you,
Jeannie Pallett
I know it’s difficult to find just the ‘right’ words to say when our friends struggle but a simple, “I care, I’m here for you” can touch a heart needing a reminder they are not alone! What a season of suffering your family is going through. I am praying for sensitive hearts and caring hands to encircle around you.