Comfort For A City

comfort - Comfort for a City

Blessed be the God . . . of all comfort, who comforts us . . . that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB

Christ’s reputation as a healer and teacher has spread across the country. So as He rides a small donkey down the winding trails, people begin to recognize Him. A crowd gathers and joyfully begins to praise God. For the first time in ministry, He is being publicly praised. Then something odd occurs. He reaches a certain point on the path to Jerusalem and begins to cry.

Cry? On a festive occasion such as this? What would prompt the Savior to cry?

Jesus looked down upon Jerusalem—past her regal palace, past her standing as a strong military force and a hub of commerce. Jesus looked past all that and saw the people. He came upon the city, looked into the future, and saw the people’s hurt. His heart’s response was to cry.

How has my heart responded when I (David) have “come upon” Teresa and seen her hurting? I can recall being unbelievably insensitive to her hurts early in our marriage. If I found Teresa sad or tearful about one of life’s inevitable daily hurts, I had little things to say such as, “What’s wrong with you now?” or “Well, next time you can handle it differently.”

But then I began to ask myself, “What does God feel for Teresa when she is in pain?” The answer came back: “He feels sad for her. He hurts for her.” With that in mind, I thought that maybe—just maybe—it’s okay for me to feel sad and hurt for her too. Maybe it’s okay for me to say things such as, “Sweetheart, I can see that you’re really upset, and I hurt for you.”

What words of compassion could you speak today to convey a heart that hurts for your spouse when he or she is hurting?