by Dona Hake
Have you ever encountered someone going through a very big problem and you feel at loss for words? Undoubtedly, I am sure you have. Sometimes we can desire so badly to say the right thing and we end up saying something and wished we would have kept our mouth shut. It is times like these that we need to be careful listeners and allow the troubled person to share their heart. As you hear with your heart, God is always faithful to fill your mouth with His words of consolation and wisdom.
The scripture that I want to share with you today is one that is very dear to my heart. It is
2 Corinthians 1:3 and it is from the Message translation.
“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”
I want you to now think about the times that you have been on the side of the deep valley of trouble. That place where there seemed to be no answers and hope. As you set your face toward the Lord you experienced His sweet comfort, and He gently and lovingly led you to the mountaintop. I know for myself that those particular times are bittersweet memories.
I encourage you today that if you have experienced that powerful comfort that can only come from the hand of God, to be ready to share it with the one in need. Think about it…you may be the one that God desires to bring alongside of someone who is going through hard times that you can be there for that person just as He was for you!