Deep thoughts on a Sunday night...
A woman who never drank or smoked and “followed all the rules”, is diagnosed with early onset cancer in her 40’s. Someone comes to visit her in the hospital and says that she may possibly have some unconfessed sin in her life that caused her cancer. Not helpful - extremely hurtful.
A family is dealing with a child’s incurable health issue. Well-meaning friends offer thoughts on causes of, cures for, reasons why this has happened. And regularly ask if the child is “better now”.
A person mourns the loss of a family member. And initially, there is plenty of support. That wains, and is replaced by discussions of moving on, closure, “getting on with life.”
Every situation is real. And God can absolutely heal and make new any situation. But sometimes He sees more than we can, and the story doesn’t have an easy, happy conclusion.
We live in a society that wants reasons for, resolutions to, and ultimately happy endings - preferably in 60-minute timeframes. And that can be painful to people around us, especially in this holiday season.
Here is how the Bible instructs us to deal with people in our lives. Romans 12:15 says to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” We don’t have to have solutions or answers. We just need to feel what they are feeling, to empathize with them.
That may be the best gift we can give this Christmas!!
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