Do you have someone in your life who suffers or is suffering deeply? Maybe it's due to a loss of a loved one, a health issue, or some other great trial. How do you show love to them? Do you ever distance yourself from them because you just don't know what to say, or what to do? Maybe you don't want to get involved because you feel you wouldn't be adequate to really help. I know I've felt this way before. I mean, aren't there a lot of other people who could love them better? But is that godly? How do we reach out to the hurting in a biblical manner?
First of all, we have to address a sense of inadequacy. We are inadequate to love others - on our own, that is. But Jesus lived a perfect sinless life and loved everyone He came in contact with perfectly. We simply are to trust in Him and step out in faith. We can't let fear of "not being good enough" stop us from obeying God's commands, and loving others is a command, not a suggestion. Therefore, whether we feel adequate or not, we are to love. If we waited to love till we were really good at it, we would never step out and love; plus, we will never get "good at it" if we don't practice.
So here's a thought. Oftentimes, a person in pain doesn't expect a lot of eloquence, they just want a hug or a kind word. Just knowing that someone cares is often enough.
Don't wait! Get out and love!
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous ; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly ; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth ; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...
1 Corinthians 13:4-8b
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
