How can I help people who are hurting? - Hurts/hurting - TouchPoints

Psalm 69:20Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.

1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.

Listen to others. Offer them empathy, and comfort. Insults and cruel words are abrasive, wounding the heart. Attention, empathy, and comfort bring healing.

Proverbs 15:13A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.

Job 30:16And now my heart is broken. Depression haunts my days.

Proverbs 17:22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Be aware of the effect deep hurt has on a person’s spirit, mind, and body. Awareness leads to sympathy; sympathy leads to empathy; empathy leads to comforting, and comforting leads to healing.

Romans 12:15When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.

1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Hebrews 13:3Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.

We should share in others’ sorrows as much as we share in their joy.

2 Corinthians 1:4He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Share your experiences of God’s comfort. God’s healing in you may bring hope and healing to others.

1 Peter 5:12I have written this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I consider a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that the grace of God is with you no matter what happens.

Encourage the brokenhearted. Words of comfort can lift up the hurting person.

Job 21:34How can you comfort me? All your explanations are wrong!

Job 16:2I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are!

Proverbs 12:18Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Job 2:13Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. And no one said a word, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

Lamentations 1:16For all these things I weep; tears flow down my cheeks. No one is here to comfort me; any who might encourage me are far away. My children have no future, for the enemy has conquered us.

We must be careful with the words we offer to the brokenhearted. Explanations and cliches are rarely comforting. Love, sympathy, and the power of our presence are urgently needed. Sometimes the best comfort we can give is to simply be with them in their hurt.

1 Thessalonians 3:7So we have been greatly comforted, dear friends, in all of our own crushing troubles and suffering, because you have remained strong in your faith.

Romans 1:12I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.

Matthew 7:5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

Remain strong but honest in your own faith. Those weakened by hurt are encouraged to see those strengthened from overcoming their hurt. Christians sometimes put on a false front of having their lives together, or even misrepresent trials and how they have overcome them. This may be well-meaning—an attempt at optimism—but hiding our hurt hinders growth for us and our listeners. It promotes a culture of dishonesty, hidden pain, and despair. The only way to bless others from our hurts is to ask God to help us confront our hurts honestly. Then we will have the experience and wisdom to help others as they face their own.

Job 42:11Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

Psalm 68:6God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But for rebels, there is only famine and distress.

Mark 16:10She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping.

As family and friends, support each other. Family life must be a safe haven from a wounding world. The family haven should be both a healing clinic and a training camp where we learn to cope with and conquer wounding influences.