I’ve always had a hard time knowing what to say to people in certain situations that I’ve never been through. Even considering myself as an emotional empath there are often situations where I try to be empatethic toward someone but find myself thinking, “Well, I feel bad for this person but I have no idea what to say because I’ve never been through it. So, I’ll just say, ‘I’m so sorry,’ and more than likely never follow-up with them again.”
But when you go through it, when you experience what you’ve only just heard about, a whole world opens. You want to get back with those people from before and love on them with a love you can only give now that you “get it.”
One thing remains for the believer, however, that is a common bond even if you haven’t experienced the same kind of grief; the unending, deeply-rooted joy of God’s salvation that He has purchased for us at the cross. No matter what happens, nothing can take away the finished work of what Jesus did there.
So we cling to His Word, His salvation, and His promise of eternal hope:
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” – Psalm 9:9
