The First Thing to Do When Your Friend Is Sad
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Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
I had just finished having a particularly difficult, tear-filled conversation with a friend who was struggling when I opened my phone and listened to a voice message from a different friend. In it, she shared some heart-wrenching events that had just occurred in her family.
As I listened, I felt grieved. I had recently spoken with several friends who were going through really hard things in their marriages, careers, and health, and now, yet another friend was hurting. My heart felt weighed down and discouraged by the pain that so many of my loved ones were experiencing.
I was about to respond to my friend’s voice message when I felt a little nudge from the Holy Spirit. He seemed to be saying, “Before you try to encourage your friend, bring your heavy heart before My throne and fix your eyes on Me, the One Who has the answers for all the problems your friends are facing.”
So, I turned on some worship music and spent some time praising God. I declared His goodness and reminded myself that He reigns, He is faithful, and He will make a way. As I did this, my heart started to feel lighter, and before long, I found that I was in a much better place from which to offer encouragement.
How about you? Is your heart weighed down by a friend or family member’s pain or sadness? If so, try spending some time worshiping God. Put on your favorite praise song and declare His faithfulness to come through for your friends and family. Then, once you've fixed your heart firmly on God, reach out with a thoughtful text, email, or phone call and let your friend know you are there for them.
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here or through the comment section below!
In purpose and faith,
This devotion was originally published @joyfullifemagazine.
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