What we should do for those who are emotionally hurt.

When Job's three friends, Epliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.  When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.  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 2:11 - 13)   Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  How is everyone doing?  I pray that everyone finds this blog in good health and spirits.  Things are going pretty good out here even though I have not been doing very good on miles and my pay hasn't been very good. The truck I was given when I returned from my trip to New York has been in the shop a lot.  In fact, my truck is in the shop now.  Has been since Friday and our truck is in the shop til Monday afternoon.  I am hoping to get everything on this truck fixed before I go home at the end of this month so that when I go back on the road everything will be working good and I can run normal again.   I have just picked up a new student last week.  He is from Cuba and teaching him is interesting.  He knows English but has trouble with some words.  We sometimes have trouble with communication.  He has a nice attitude and really wants to learn so I will do my best to teach him.  He keeps telling me that Americans are crazy.   When someone has physical needs or runs into problems such as loosing a job, loosing their home or physical possessions in a natural disaster, I see lots of people running to help that person with their physical needs.  But how about their emotional needs?  Are we not to help people when they are having emotional problems too?    God created us to be social beings.  I don't care if someone says they prefer to be alone, God didn't create us to be that way.  Throughout the Bible, even from the beginning, God says that it isn't healthy for us to be alone and God also says and even demonstrates the blessings we have through each other.  When God wants to bless someone or help out  someone He uses people to do it.  This isn't only for physical needs but emotional needs also.  I know that it is hard to be around people who are feeling sad, depressed, or lonely.  But it is God's will that we be there for others when they have emotional problems and it is also God's will that we accept help when we have emotional problems.  And lets face it, we all have felt down and we all will feel down in the future.    So, why does God want us to comfort one another?  After all, God says that He comforts us, doesn't He?  In fact, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter.  But, God also said that we must comfort others as God comforts us (2 Cor 1:4).  Think how hard it is to be with and comfort people who are down emotionally.  It is easy to fix physical problems but to just be with someone who is emotionally down is very hard.  It takes a lot from us and without God, we don't do good at it.  This takes lots of Love.  More then us as humans have.  But God does have that kind of love and gives it to us.  By us showing God's love when someone is down, we show God to others.  Truth is, God uses you to show His love to the world.  You are the hands and feet of God.  The cool thing is that by being His hands and feet, you don't have to do anything.  Just let God work through you.    What do you do when someone is feeling emotional pain or is just lonely?  Most of the time people will avoid being around someone who is emotionally down because we feel like we can't do anything.  What do you say?  What do you do?  It is hard thing because everyone reacts to emotional pain differently.  The mind is very complex and everyones mind is different.  But you know, most of the time all that is needed is just for us to be with them and listen.  Maybe a hug, a cup of coffee, a card game, or just sitting and being quiet.  Most of the time when someone is down, they already know what they must do.  They just need another human to be with them.   By being there, we show that we care and will be by their side.  That is love.  That is the love God has for us and the love we should show others.  By us showing God's love, others will see that we are God's children and will also see God.   So, the next time you see someone hurting.  Pray for them, but also take the time to comfort them.  It can be a phone call, an e-mail, a hand written letter, and if possible ... Visit them.  I am going to make a challenge to myself and ask that you all do the same.  Every time you see that someone is hurting (whether it be on a social network group, church bulletin, Internet group, through a friend, or you see them in person) take the time to make contact with them.  This doesn't mean you have to fly out to their house.  But IM them, give them a phone call, e-mail them or write them a letter.  If you do live close then it is better to see them in person.  But ask them how are they feeling and let them open up to you.  Remember, God may be using you to be his hands and feet.  You may be the one God uses to bring someone closer to Him.  You may be the one God uses to help prevent a brother or sister from falling away.  Most of all ... You will be showing love to a neighbor.   Well, I must be going.  Take care and God Bless.   Love, The Oklahoma Tomcat