"...The Holy Spirit...Asking Him to Guide Your Words"
From the series "Words Matter"
by Shelly Burke, RN, Author, and Publisher of the "Nebraska Family Times" newspaper
How do you comfort a friend during the darkest hours of his or her life? What do you say to someone who has received devastating news? At times we’ve all been confronted with a situation that is so unexpected, or awful, that knowing what to say is beyond our experience or knowledge, despite our desire to take away some of the pain of the person who is in crisis.
Do not think that you cannot help because you are too young, or too old, too inexperienced, or have not been in the same situation as the person who is suffering. God can and does use us to comfort others, sometimes when we feel the least qualified to do so.
Romans 8:26-27 tells us that, “. . . the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.“
When you are faced with a situation and just do not know what words to say, take a deep breath and pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the words. You don’t even have to have words to pray; He can interpret your ‘groans,’ or pleas, for the right words to come to you, through God and the Holy Spirit.
Then, wait . . . do not hurry to reply to what your friend has said, or fill a silence. Your quiet presence will be a comfort to your friend. Listen for God’s still, small voice, urging you what to say or do, and use those words to help or comfort your friend. Or just sit quietly. Offer a hug. Click here for "The 10 Best Things to Say When You Don't know what to Say".
Proverbs 16:1 tells us, “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.” When the plans of our heart are to comfort someone, or talk with them about a serious situation, God knows this. If we seek Him, He will give us the right words to reply with.
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From the series "Words Matter"
by Shelly Burke, RN, Author, and Publisher of the "Nebraska Family Times" newspaper
Do not think that you cannot help because you are too young, or too old, too inexperienced, or have not been in the same situation as the person who is suffering. God can and does use us to comfort others, sometimes when we feel the least qualified to do so.
Romans 8:26-27 tells us that, “. . . the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.“
When you are faced with a situation and just do not know what words to say, take a deep breath and pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the words. You don’t even have to have words to pray; He can interpret your ‘groans,’ or pleas, for the right words to come to you, through God and the Holy Spirit.
Then, wait . . . do not hurry to reply to what your friend has said, or fill a silence. Your quiet presence will be a comfort to your friend. Listen for God’s still, small voice, urging you what to say or do, and use those words to help or comfort your friend. Or just sit quietly. Offer a hug. Click here for "The 10 Best Things to Say When You Don't know what to Say".
Proverbs 16:1 tells us, “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.” When the plans of our heart are to comfort someone, or talk with them about a serious situation, God knows this. If we seek Him, He will give us the right words to reply with.
Have you felt the Holy Spirit guide your words when you didn't know what to say?
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This post is an excerpt
from “What Should I Say? The Right (and Wrong!) Words and
Deeds for Life’s Sticky, Tricky Uncomfortable Situations”
by Shelly Burke, RN. Coming soon!
Download “What Should I Say” and be prepared
for any of life’s sticky, tricky uncomfortable situations!
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