Bad Advice Devotional

If you have ever been to a funeral, you know the pain loved ones feel.  You hope to offer words of encouragement to the family and help ease the sting of loss, but in reality, you usually don’t know what to say. In these moments, I wish I knew how to make things better. The thing is, I’ve studied the Bible diligently, so technically, I do have a lot of answers for the questions that arise in sorrow. I know plenty of verses on grieving and comfort in painful moments. But those answers and verses often fall short in times of need. In fact, sometimes they do more harm than good. What is helpful is our presence. Our nearness brings comfort, not our words— however true they may be. Sometimes being sad with someone is more helpful than trying to cheer them up. People are usually comforted when we just spend time with them, even in their sorrow. Our role isn’t to make them happy or to take away their pain. Our role is to be present and walk with them in the midst of their pain. This is the example our heavenly Father sets for us. Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted.” It doesn’t say he “cheers up” the brokenhearted, or tries his best to speak a monumental truth. God is our counselor and healer; he is close to the brokenhearted. In the middle of our pain, when the answers we have aren’t enough, our Father is near to us. In our pain, it is his presence that brings us comfort and healing. Questions for Reflection:

• Are there people around you in a painful circumstance that would appreciate someone being present with them? What is keeping you from being there with them?
• Has there been a time in your life where you felt the closeness of God? How did that bring comfort or healing to your life?