“Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.” (Psalm 10:17 NLT)
Recently, I was visiting an old Catholic church filled with beautiful artwork. I kept noticing images of Mother Mary, watching helplessly, as Jesus suffered.
At some time or another, we have all experienced feelings of powerlessness as we watched our loved ones suffer. We want to reach out and do something to comfort them. But often, we are unable to do anything other than stand by helplessly.
I think there is value in knowing that someone cares enough to witness your suffering. Private pain can be unbearably intense. It feels invalid and distorted. It is often compounded by shame and hopelessness. During times of adversity, I have found comfort in having even one person who empathetically listens to my anguish and fears.
God hears our cries of helplessness. Yet, most of us can’t sense His comforting presence. We need human hugs; we need words we can hear; we need to know that our pain is legitimate, and that we aren’t just crazy. Even when we are mere witnesses to those who are in pain, we can still be tangible manifestations of God’s grace, validation, and comfort.
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