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28 June 2007
Psalm 69 v 19-21
You see my shame and disgrace. You know all my enemies and what they have said.
Insults have broken my heart and left me weak. I looked for sympathy, but there was none; I found no one to comfort me.
They put poison in my food and gave me vinegar to drink.
What strikes me about these verses is the lack of compassion and how wounding cruel words can be. The end result is how negative this makes the situation. In contrast to this I think of God's love and comfort.
A good friend having already lost his youngest son in 1999, lost his eldest son in a traffic accident in January of this year. He said what helped him and his family were the condolences and prayers of family and many friends. Both sons were lost in very tragic circumstances. I was truly amazed at how his faith sustained him and brought him comfort, and how he has turned his circumstances round, how he is getting on with things that he can do something about. He has found comfort knowing with certainty that his son's are together with our heavenly Father looking after them until it is his time to join them.
We as our Father's representatives on earth can make a difference by comforting those in need, and using a bit of thought. It is too easy to avoid situations because they are uncomfortable for us, just because it makes us feel awkward and we feel we cannot help. Sometimes just being there at a difficult time is all that is needed. Words are not always necessary and in any case in some circumstances no words are adequate at that point in time.
Father I thank you that you have such compassion for us. Help me to be more understanding and to be a comfort to those in need. Strengthen me to deal with difficult circumstances in Jesus name. Amen.
Written by Liz Tyas-Peterson
Psalm 69 v 19-21
You see my shame and disgrace. You know all my enemies and what they have said.
Insults have broken my heart and left me weak. I looked for sympathy, but there was none; I found no one to comfort me.
They put poison in my food and gave me vinegar to drink.
What strikes me about these verses is the lack of compassion and how wounding cruel words can be. The end result is how negative this makes the situation. In contrast to this I think of God's love and comfort.
A good friend having already lost his youngest son in 1999, lost his eldest son in a traffic accident in January of this year. He said what helped him and his family were the condolences and prayers of family and many friends. Both sons were lost in very tragic circumstances. I was truly amazed at how his faith sustained him and brought him comfort, and how he has turned his circumstances round, how he is getting on with things that he can do something about. He has found comfort knowing with certainty that his son's are together with our heavenly Father looking after them until it is his time to join them.
We as our Father's representatives on earth can make a difference by comforting those in need, and using a bit of thought. It is too easy to avoid situations because they are uncomfortable for us, just because it makes us feel awkward and we feel we cannot help. Sometimes just being there at a difficult time is all that is needed. Words are not always necessary and in any case in some circumstances no words are adequate at that point in time.
Father I thank you that you have such compassion for us. Help me to be more understanding and to be a comfort to those in need. Strengthen me to deal with difficult circumstances in Jesus name. Amen.
Written by Liz Tyas-Peterson