When it comes to knowing how to comfort others we can sometimes overthink things. We might be afraid we’ll say the wrong thing so we don’t say anything at all. Or we might draw the conclusion that hurting people need space more than anything and so we don’t show up. But I believe God wants us to be involved in each other’s lives. He wants us to bear each other’s burdens and accoreding to scripture he wants us to comfort others.
5 Practical ways to comforting others:
- Show Up. Just be there.
- Don’t feel like you must quote Romans 8:28 to the person grieving. Yes, we know that God works all things out for good….but let’s be careful how we throw that verse out. Timing and tone make a difference. We don’t want to convey a flippant spirit of “Oh it’s all good. You’ll be fine.”
- Shut up and dance. Okay, not really but be okay with silence. And tears on your shoulder.
- It’s okay to laugh. In fact, timely humor can be a much needed relief.
- Pray – it’s one of the greatest gifts we can give to others.
Of course there are a million tiny other ways we can comfort others but the things to remember is that God gives us the comfort to share with others.
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