Weep With Those Who Weep
By Susan Klein
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who
mourn.”
Romans 12:15 (NIV)
One
of my most poignant and treasured memories is when my pastor and his wife wept
with me. I had just lost a baby, one that they both had fervently prayed God
would spare. In His sovereignty, He did not. The next morning, they entered my
hospital room, sat on my bed, took my hands, and wept with me. They did not
offer words of wisdom, or condolences. They did not quote Scripture to me. They
just wept with me in my time of great sorrow. It was a balm for my weary soul
and provided just what I needed at that very moment.
The
shortest verse in the Bible, Jesus wept
(John 11:35, NIV), shows our Lord’s humanly felt compassion for
His dear friends who were mourning and weeping the death of their beloved. He
knew, being God incarnate, that He had the power to change their circumstances,
yet He chose first to stop and experience their pain with them. He didn’t try
to bandage their hurt with well-meaning words. He did not sit back and watch
silently. He saw their grief, which touched His own heart, and He wept with
them.
Have
you ever wept with someone? The common bond that is experienced at that very
moment is unlike anything else! When a person is in the midst of her sorrow or
despair, what she desires most is to be comforted, not insightful theology or
the recitation of memorized verses for just such an occasion. There comes a
time for that, later, when she is on the road to healing. In the heat of the
grief, she just wants to know that she is not alone in what she’s feeling! And
grieving with her is comforting.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts
us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the
comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)
Just
as we rejoice with others when they are rejoicing, so ought we take our Lord’s
example and weep with those who are weeping. Don’t be afraid to let them see
you grieve. They’ll sooo appreciate it!
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
How do you tend to respond to someone who is grieving? Do you give space, try
to offer words of encouragement, quote Scripture...?
2. Perhaps you are not a “weepy” sort of person. How might you tangibly grieve with someone in her despair?
2. Perhaps you are not a “weepy” sort of person. How might you tangibly grieve with someone in her despair?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan is married to Mark, and has two
adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with
the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at Oakwood.
