There are times in life when words become completely inadequate. For me, this usually happens when tragedy strikes. I'm the kind of person that when bad things happen, I want to fix them. Need me to clean the house? Feed the dog? Cook enough food to feed an army? I'm there...I can handle it...just give me a job to do. Someday I'll probably be known as the casserole queen of the women's group at church. The fact is, that's the best way I know how to help. I like to think I can be a good listener, but almost always, when I am faced with a friend who needs comforted, I can never think of anything to say. Words never seem adequate enough. I don't want to sound like a broken record, echoing others' sentiments, even though their words may be exactly what I'm feeling. I guess that's why you can buy books with titles like How To Say It, that are supposed to help you express yourself with words.
Many times, though I feel like words just won't cut it. I'd rather snap my fingers and suddenly make it all go away, so that things will be happy for everyone again. I've often wished that whatever happened to inflict such heartache and pain would have happened to me. This is not because I have any particular desire to experience pain. It's just that I'd rather I suffer than to see someone else I care about suffer. After expressing this sentiment once a wise mentor asked me, "Why do you feel like you have to take other's burdens on? Isn't that what Jesus died for? Don't you believe God is big enough to bear it all?"
That seems to be the very crux of the matter and the solution for all those times when I feel helpless and unable to express love and concern in a way that I feel would really make a difference. In my weakness and helplessness, He is strong. When I don't have all the answers, He has it all worked out in His plan for good. When I can't carry others burdens, He can. When I can't seem to do or say anything that would bring true comfort, God can wrap that person in his arms and hold them close. Only He can bring true comfort and healing in the midst of sorrows. So perhaps the best response to tragedy is prayer.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4
That's a promise.
