"What Do We Say?"

  We know people that are having a rough ride in life. In some cases it will get worse for them before it gets better. You want to give them words of encouragement but what would you say? We generally would say that we are sorry to hear of their troubles and our hearts go out to them. There is nothing wrong with that and there is a place of expressions like this. But to those who go through great difficulties need more than our sympathy! Once you walk away, they only have the brief memory of your visit and there they stand still facing their struggle.

  We need to take lessons from the apostle Peter. He writes his letters to Jewish Christians who are suffering throughout the world and in some cases it is going to get worse. What does Peter say to them? Read I Pet. 1:1-12 and there is where you find what to say. Peter points to who they are and their security no matter what. Too many times we read such with our past knowledge and we do not focus on who we are and what we possess even in the midst of our difficulties! Right up front, they (we) belong to God and possess something that nothing on this earth can touch. Once Peter points their faith to focus on the proper things then he tells them to "gird their minds for action." (I Pet. 1:13-25). Peter doesn't sympathize with them, pat them on the back and tell them he is thinking about them while walking away. He calls on faith both to believe and act! If there is no faith, there will be no acting upon the promises. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)

  Peter doesn't deny their troubles. Just read through his letter in one setting. The Lord transformed their lives and is directing them (and us) upward. The facts are laid out...this is reality! Maybe the reason many in Christ drown themselves in their troubles is we never point their faith upward and set them on the path to seeing who they are? When you walk away, they still have the promises before them and the reality of their situation before the Lord. They can respond by faith and not be locked in such a troubled state of mind! Should this not be our words to the troubled?