Have you ever been with someone in a difficult situation, where you didn’t know what to say or do?
Especially in situations of loss, we often stumble and search for the right response.
The apostle Paul helps us with this. In Romans 12:15, he shares something very insightful:
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep.
Recently while reading this simple yet profound passage, the second half of it once again jumped off the page at me:
This very important portion seems to have been lost, or at the least, is often overshadowed by the first half, “Rejoice with those who rejoice…”
We all have that part down – rejoicing when we see a miracle or someone’s needs being met financially. What a blessing to hear of a victory, and what a joy to celebrate with them!
However when tragedy strikes a friend or a church member, we too often sit in shock and don’t know what to do. Of course, there is always sorrow in the moment, but when OUR life carries on, the tragic event is often moved to the back row of our busy lives.
So let’s be honest here – we are very uncomfortable with someone not winning the fight, like a death or a divorce, and too often we just don’t know what to say. We eventually allow the gravity of that situation to slip through our fingers instead of holding them close to our hearts.
This scripture, …weep with those who weep, helps us know how to respond.
Let’s show them we care enough to get in the boat with them. Allow their situation to touch you more deeply, weep with them if you can, help to bear their burden, or reach out with a helping hand.
Even Jesus wept as He approached the tomb of his friend Lazarus and saw his friends Mary and Martha weeping and mourning. He wept with them because He loved them.
As The Church, Christ’s Body here on the earth, we must allow compassion to rise up for the downtrodden and hurting, the widows and the orphans. THIS IS pure religion.
So here is our assignment, as the Lord’s representatives on the earth:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NIV
And, like we’re instructed in Galatians 6:2, let’s bear others’ burdens and fulfill the Law of Christ, which is LOVE.
Love cares. Love helps a hurting brother or sister. Love goes the extra mile. And Love weeps with those who weep!
WWJD,
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