Bless

Kimbery Grainger penned our devotional thoughts this week. Be sure to stop by the contributor’s page to learn more about her.

When you’ve walked deep tragedy – that room-spinning, nausea-inducing, chest-aching, sob-crying agony of real suffering – you get really quickly. 

How often have we grieved with aching loved ones, saying, “I don’t know what to DO!”  We often want to mend, fix, end the hurt, yet terrestrial pain yields eternal fruit. 

My wise husband asks, “Why do we believers add prayer as an afterthought when it should be our first response?”

Friends and family who’ve been there themselves know how to just sit quietly with you. “A wise man quietly holds it back” (Pro 29:11).  

Wise ones simply remind you of their love and continuing prayerfulness. 

When you’re bloodied and gasping, you don’t need

*links to six-part sermon series.

*must-read spiritual growth booklists.

*unasked-for advice. 

Those all have their place, yet good advice at a bad time is like asking an accident victim being loaded onto a guerney into an ambulance, “Want to brush your teeth now?  Need a snack?”

Not now, y’all. 

God’s work is done via friends who

Listen.

Hug.

Weep.

Hold.

Sit.

Mourn. 

Be wise and refuse to fix.  That’s His job, anyway.  Follow His example:  “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit”  (Ps 34:18).

Lord, duct-tape our lips and widen our arms, to hold the hurting as You do.