The Importance of Presence
Life has taught us to be fixers. When someone's hurting, we rush to offer solutions, quote Scripture, or find the silver lining. But sometimes the most powerful ministry is simply being present.
Job's friends got this right - at first. The Bible tells us they "sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was" (Job 2:13). It was only when they started trying to explain and fix things that they went wrong.
Jesus demonstrated this ministry of presence perfectly. At Lazarus's tomb, He didn't immediately launch into a sermon about resurrection. Instead, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). He entered into the grief of those around Him.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer someone who's hurting isn't our words, but our presence.
Check out my new book Hope for the Heavy Heart.