FEELING THE PAIN OF OTHERS!

FEELING THE PAIN OF OTHERS!

John 11:33-35

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35 Jesus wept.

           In the same way service dogs are trained to sense that something is not right with their patients, some of us have been gifted with the ability to sense pain in others. We see through the smiles and happy-go-lucky attitude to the depths of a person’s heart. I’m one of those people but I don’t always appreciate this ability because there seems to be pain everywhere.

           I attended a chaplain’s conference in Dallas a number years ago and met some of the first responders to the Oklahoma City bombing. They told of the carnage they had to witness and how they gradually grew numb to the pain. Many of these ministers and counselors were still groaning in their spirit. They had seen and felt more than they were prepared for.

           The word “groaned” in verse 33 is the Greek embrimaomai which actually means “to snort with anger or to sigh with chagrin.” More than being sorrowful, Jesus was angry at death. Knowing this changes the tone of His question: “Where have ye laid him?” I hear a determined resolve to reverse the cause of pain. Only God could do this.

           As you go through this day keep a sharp eye out for the pain in others. Develop a firm resolve to reverse the cause of pain if at all possible. Then pay attention to yourself and do what Jesus often did. Steal away to some quiet place and talk to the Father so that your peace may return.

1 Cor 12:26

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Lord, give me a keen insight into the pain of others and a heart to help. When I am worn, restore me that I might help again. AMEN