3 minute read
THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE
by Darlene Sala
While 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.
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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.
The power of presence!
Kay Warren says that as she was going through breast cancer, she found the greatest comfort —
“...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
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.
You who are believers in the medical field have the 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.
You can email Darlene at darlene@guidelines.org
1 Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 142.
