THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE By Darlene Sala hile visiting the rose-red fortress city of Petra in Jordan, one of our group felt faint and needed to lie down. I stayed with her as the others continued to explore the area. Soon a group of local men gathered and politely sat near us to communicate their concern, not saying a word. My mind went back to the days of suffering Job. When he lost his wealth, his children and his health, three of his friends came to comfort him. “Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was” (Job 2:13). In fact, it was when his friends began to talk that they caused him more discomfort than help.
You can email Darlene at darlene@guidelines.org
The power of presence!
If You’re Trying to STUDY the BIBLE, Why Not Use S-O-A-P-S ?
Kay Warren says that as she was going through breast cancer, she found the greatest comfort —
Use a systematic approach to go through the whole Bible in your daily devotional times. To start with, prayerfully read one chapter a day and use a devotional notebook to write down your SOAPS notes.
“...not in the verses of Scripture people sent me or the fantastic meals prepared by loving church members or the books on living with cancer. What comforted me was the presence of family members and friends who were willing to sit with me, sometimes without saying a single word. They brought the supernatural comfort of the Holy Spirit to my suffering just by being with me.1
A complete information guide with options can be found on this link: https://tinyurl.com/mt5xkmd7
SCRIPTURE
When people we care about suffer tragedies in their lives, we are sometimes hesitant to call them or visit. We don’t know what to say. We can quote Romans 8:28 and assure them God has everything in control— that “all things work together for good.” But when they’re throbbing with pain, telling them it’s all going to work out for the best doesn’t give much comfort. Only God can make this truth a comfort—in His own time.
Prayerfully read one chapter of the Bible. Write down the portion of that chapter that speaks to you.
OBSERVATION
What does this portion of the Bible say about God, His ways, people, and you?
APPLICATION
How does God want you to respond to what He said to you through His Word?
You who are believers in the medical field have abilities and tools to help the suffering. But there will be times when even you reach the end of your resources to relieve suffering. Is there more that you can do? A resounding “Yes!” Never underestimate the difference that your presence can make. When we are God’s children, He lives within us, so let’s not hesitate to spend time with those who suffer, knowing that when we do, we are taking the presence of Christ to them—even without a word.
PRAYER Ask God to help you to respond to Him in a way that brings Him joy.
SHARE
With whom will you try to share what you learned during your SOAPS time?
1
Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 142.
source: hcfglobal.org
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