The local newspaper reported that a mother was devastated when her 21 year old son, who had always seemed like an upright young man, had been arrested for dealing drugs.

Also in our community the parents and siblings of a 15 year old are grieving because he was killed in a shooting.

A friend is heartbroken because her only daughter, the person she depended on more than anyone, died from cancer.

People who are hurting have a common need: the comfort that comes from trusting God. They need to be assured that tragedy and grief are not a mark of God’s displeasure but that He weeps with them, He loves them and He will never leave those who are His.

Eliphaz said to Job, “Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees” (Job 4:4). Job earned this tribute despite his own deep suffering. And when we offer comfort to sorrowing and suffering people, we not only emulate Job—we emulate Jesus.

In the midst of a host of hurting people, each one of us can reach out to become a comforter like Job. Let’s ask God to make our hearts tender enough to support and strengthen those who are hurting.

Author

Herbert Vander Lugt

Topics

Our Daily Bread