The sermon at CLC Sunday was about ministering to those who are hurting. It touched me deeply because it brought back memories of when I was the one hurting and of when I reached out to help others who were hurting.
As far as physical hurting, I have had some temporarily painful injuries, but never broken a bone. However, at the age of 63, I developed sciatic pain in both hips and legs. It was chronic pain that was constant. It made it very difficult for me to walk very far or to sit or lie down comfortably. When I started attending CLC, I joined a men’s group and the first meeting with them the leader asked for prayer requests. I asked for prayer for my sciatic pain. They immediately gathered around and laid their hands on me and fervently prayed for my healing. The next morning I awoke without nerve pain in my hips and legs for the first time in eight years. Those men ministered very effectively to me when I was hurting. It wasn’t just me. Every week we would pray for those who were hurting in any way and the following week they would give a praise report just as I had done.
Mental, emotional and spiritual hurts can often cause even more pain than physical injury. Twice in my life, I have experienced all three of those types of hurt at the same time. The first was when my mother died when I was in my early teens. The second was when my wife died after nearly 51 years of marriage. What helped me most when my mom died was when the young pastor who had baptized my mom and me spoke words of encouragement at her funeral. I realized then that as Christians our separation was only temporary and I will be with her again. When my wife died I knew we would be together again, but I was lost without her by my side. Another young pastor helped me through it by assuring me that God wasn’t done with me yet.
I have found the key to helping others who are hurting (as with everything I do) is to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit within me. God knows the words or actions that will help them the most and often it is just being there for them without speaking at all. I believe I have helped some of my friends through their suffering by simply offering a trusted, sympathetic ear while they share their pain and frustration without fear of embarrassment or accusation. Job’s friends had it right when they sat down with him and listened in silence to his grief and hurt. Then they blew it by beginning to offer their opinions and suggestions. They even falsely accused him of bringing it all on himself by somehow displeasing God. I’m sure that hurt him almost as much as the boils on his body or his many losses. When you are hurting; don’t hesitate to ask other believers for their prayers and then seek out a Christian brother or sister with whom you can comfortably share your pain. When you are helping; pray for them and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, treading lightly around their tender physical, mental, emotional or spiritual wound.