Daily Devotional, November 8, 2023 Rescue 911
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
One of the most watched shows in the 1990s was “Rescue 911” which was basically a documentary-drama television series that featured re-enactments of emergencies and corresponding responses of frontliners. It established 911 as a helpline especially for life-threatening emergencies.
As Christians, we can establish ourselves as a personal helpline to others. We can be someone else’s safe space where they could talk about their feelings without fear of being judged. In these times when depression is almost an epidemic, and suicide rates are skyrocketing, lending an ear to someone is tantamount to rescuing them from desperation. In his second letter to the Corinthian church the Apostle Paul reminded believers that just as they received comfort from the Lord, they too should extend the same to the weak and the ailing:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Listening is the best gift one can give to someone who is facing challenges, extreme sadness, and mourning. Allowing the person to speak his mind, and validating his hurts, is a huge help as he gets to unburden his feelings. Besides, no amount of assurance or advice can calm the heart of a grief-stricken person, so just staying with them to listen or simply just to provide company is enough. Romans 12:15 says: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
In the Old Testament, Job’s friends sat with him quietly after he lost everything including all his children, and all his possessions:
"And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great." (Job 2:13)
In our daily lives, we encounter hurting people. Some due to unforeseen circumstances such as death in their family, a medical diagnosis, financial challenges, and relationship issues. We should be quick to assure these people in our lives that they can lean on someone, and that above all, there is a God that will deliver them from everything that they are facing. Psalm 34:18 says:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
(Psalm 34:18)
And in this busy world, where face to face connection is starting to become a less preferred way of connecting with others, we struggle to provide someone the emotional rescue he or she needs. What usually prevents us from being a helpline to others include:
1. Lack of time to spend with the grieving person because we too are busy with our own life and pursuits.
2. Degree of closeness with the depressed person.
3. Inability to notice the other person’s affliction either because the person is masking his troubles, or we are too preoccupied with our own lives.
When it comes to lack of time, we should realize that we can always make time. If someone would tell you that there is a great reward for spending a couple of hours of your day in a certain location, wouldn’t you make time for it? If your answer is yes, then indeed you have the time to spend with a grieving or depressed person. It is just that you have not considered such an endeavor to be worthy of a spot in your schedule. Let us remember that the Lord commands us to help one another with our troubles: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)
Next, the degree of closeness that we have with a grieving person should not be a reason to not make ourselves available to hear him out or at least be there for him. Yes, we may just see them in church every Sunday, or he may not open up too much details of his sadness to you because you are not close friends, but assuring that person that you are ready to listen anytime, and that you are available to help out in whatever way you can is enough.
The last reason, which is inability to see through a person’s grief, is the saddest reason of all. How many times have we heard stories about people being in shock after learning that their loved one, or close friend, or acquaintance has committed suicide? Failing to see and act on the red flags of extreme depression can be traumatic, and so if we are more observant, and we focus less on ourselves, we will be more sensitive to others and their sufferings.
Lending an ear to someone in need of a shoulder to cry on is one way of bearing another person’s burden. It is one way of showing Christ-like love, and a golden opportunity to share the good news and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us open our ears and heart, and share our precious time with others, so that we can comfort them as they face their sorrows.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: How can you be a helpline to others? Is there anyone in your circle or community that needs a listening ear?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for allowing me tohelp out others weather their emotional storms. Empower me with a listening ear, and a sound mind so that I could provide a comforting presence to others, and mirror Your love to them. Amen.