ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

“Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother” (vs. 19). Expressions of sympathy contin- ued for several days (see vs. 31, 33). Speaking from experience concerning such occasions, most Christians welcome the opportunity to express sympathy.After all, theWord says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). In fact, I’ve seen just as much rejoicing as weeping going on when the one who died was a believer who had lived a long, fruitful life. In such cases, the services were viewed more of a celebration of life. There will be those who make inappropriate comments like, “God must have needed him/her more than you did,” while others will wear out their welcome - some doing both. Job’s “friends” are a prime example.At a time when he desperately needed comfort and support, they were judgmental and accusatory.As one of the three, Zophar said, “If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents” (Job 11:14). A word of counsel to those ministering to the grieving: Less is more.You can’t fix it. Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. Just being there is what’s most important.There are also those times when no one needs to be there, as was the case with Mary. Martha came out to greet Jesus but “Mary stayed in the house” (vs. 20). She would come to greet Him later, but needed to retreat and be alone for a while. We learned from the chapter on depression, looking at David, that solitude is often the best option. Grieving over Zion, one of the major prophets said, “Oh that I had in the desert a wayfarers’ lodging place; that I might leave my people and go from them!” (Jeremiah 9:2). Jesus was in such agony the night before His crucifixion that He had to withdraw and spend some time alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. He who knew no sin was about to take on the sin load of mankind (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), a task He could not complete

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