Think of the moments in your life when you felt a devastating loss. In those moments we feel alone. We feel tremendous pain. We feel like we have lost a part of ourselves. We feel broken. We feel many things.
I think the biggest pain is when our loss affects our hopes and our dreams for a future. There was a season not so long ago in my life where I kept encountering loss. There was a season where the things I valued and treasured, the hopes I had were crushed, broken and lost. More than the loss, I felt the pain of being alone. The people I thought had cared removed themselves from me. Those who should have encouraged me became a source of discouragement and also fueled the pain, tears, and despair.
There is a story in Luke about a woman who had lost her son. She had already lost her husband. Her hope for her future was gone. Her source of joy, her family was gone. Her dreams were crushed. Her life was shattered. She did what we all would do. She wept. She mourned. She cried. She searched for hope. She wondered if there was an encouraging word. She asked if there would ever be an end to her cycle of loss. She wept. She cried……
As Jesus was walking in the course of His day, he noticed the funeral procession. He saw the women. He heard her cries.
Think about the steps you are taking today? Who will you encounter that is crying? Who will you see who has suffered a loss? Whose path will you cross that needs an encouraging word? What will you do?
“When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” ” (Luke 7:13, NIV)
First, the Lord saw her. Many times we walk past people and we are in our own little world and we fail to see. Open your eyes and look around today. Who do you see?
Second, His heart went out to her. He felt and understood the pain she was enduring. His heart connected to her. When you see someone hurting, connect to that person. Think about what it would be like if the situation was changed. What if you suffered? Let your heart connect to their heart. Take a risk and understand their pain.
Third, Jesus had an encouraging word. He said “Don’t cry.”. I can only imagine how he came up and touched her. In the midst of hopelessness, he offered a word of hope. He told her through his touch and through his word, through noticing her, that He was here with her. Now at this moment of despair, He would walk this journey with her. He said “Don’t cry”. I am here – don’t cry. So often, we have no idea what to say, so we say nothing at all. We may feel bad, but we say nothing. It is ok to say to those who are hurting, “It is ok, I am here. I see your pain. I am stopping here with you. I will be here with you. Don’t cry.”
Jesus did not leave with just a word though. He took the time to see what His Father in heaven wanted to do. “…I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ” (John 8:28, NIV) Jesus then, knowing the will of His Father, raised the child from the dead. He restored what was lost to the mother. As Christians, Jesus has said He will work through us. “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. ” (Mark 16:20, NIV) After we have paused to be with the hurting ones, we can seek our Father. When we know what God wants to do, we can be assured that as we speak out the will of God, it will be done.
This is a message of hope we can bring to a hurting world. Don’t Cry!
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