Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Our eight-year-old grandson Nathan has his good days and then his not so good days. It’s good to be there for him each time. He’s now beginning to be there for me whether good or not so good. He’s still at the age where we can get a hug and that means so much. He’s learning that from his parents who do the same thing.
Just being there means so much. It’s a ministry of presence. We need to be there for each other as God is there for us. I think we need to resist the urge to “do,” to “fix”, or to “heal” something that’s beyond our power to change. We’ll apply the band aide, but it’s the application that means so much.
That can be what the church is all about. We don’t need to fall back on tired cliches or try to fix people. Physical, emotional or spiritual pain may take time to heal, but we need to be there throughout that time. I’ve heard people ask “what do you say when someone loses a loved one?” I think the answer is nothing. Just be there. The gift of our presence is the ministry that will provide the presence of the healing of the Holy Spirit in us as He will comfort others sometimes through our silence.
In Christ,
Rev. David Edgar
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