Today’s post is from Concordia Chaplain Rev. Roger Nuerge and is part four of the “Call to Care” series. Concordia’s Chaplaincy Department actively contributes to our residents’ well being.
How do you care for someone who is hurting or suffering? That question is addressed by Dr. Kenneth Haugk in his book Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart. He says that when one is called to care for another it is good to have a Biblical understanding of suffering. In this segment he says that the Biblical way to care for another is to know that Christ cares for people through people. Let’s listen as the Bible speaks.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).
This is perhaps the passage that has brought more comfort to more people than any other. What comfort do people find here? The presence of God.
- Just as the shepherd is with his sheep, God is with his people. His presence comforts. It means that wherever we are, we are not alone.
- Jesus experienced the feeling of being utterly alone like we often do when he cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?”
- The physical presence of another person can bring comfort to those who are suffering.
- Even more important is when someone is present with someone in spirit and mind—understanding and empathizing with them in their pain.
As a caring Christian, you can follow the Good Shepherd’s example when you walk with them in their dark valleys.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Suffering often makes a person feel alone and lonely which makes the suffering even worse. The Christian faith says that God is a suffering God. In these words Paul calls God “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”
- As Christians we meet God in the person of Jesus who came to us in the flesh to suffer for us and like us.
- The Greek word translated comfort means “to call alongside.” When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in John 14:26 he called him the “Comforter”—the one called to your side.
- When Paul speaks about the comfort of God, he speaks from experience. As he offers solace to others in their chaos, he does so from his experience as one who has earned the right to speak.
- Christians by definition are people who have received comfort from God and are empowered to embody God’s comfort in their relationship with others.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:12)
When God revealed himself to humanity, he chose to do so not so much in mystical or heavenly visions but in the human form of Jesus.
- Through out his life Jesus demonstrated his care and compassion for people who were hurting and suffering.
- Christians are called to be Christ to a world that is hurting and suffering.
- When Christians show love and care for the suffering and hurting, God’s character shines forth.
- No one has seen God, but when suffering and hurting people experience God’s love and care through compassionate and caring Christians, they see God at work.
For more information on the spiritual care services offered at Concordia, visit us on the Web, e-mail here or call 724.352.1571.
I got up at 2:30 A.M. unable to sleep./ With Madaline in the Lund Assisted Living it raises so many questions. After 67 years of marriage it’s so difficult to realized that she’ll never be able to reside with me again. I appreciated Pastor Rogers article on comfort, Thank you so much. As a retired Pastor I need it.
Grant
Grant,
Thank you for your reply. I was touched by what you said. We know we can find comfort in God because he is a suffering God. The cross reminds us of that. It assures you that he is with you in the suffering you are described in your note to me. It’s strange that the cross, such a painful instrument of torture and death, could be a source of comfort for us but it can when we remember what God did for us there. Your remain in my prayers.
Blessings in Christ always,
Pastor Roger Nuerge
One thing I love about the Personal Care Department at Concordia is that there is always someone there for spiritual care, like Pastor Roger, or the Deaconesses on staff, as well as the regualr staff and fellow patients. If you reach out and ask for help, you never have to feel alone. Grant and Pastor Roger have both said prayers for me as a staff member there, and I have brought Grant a cup of coffee whenever he visitied Madaline just to make him feel “at home” when he visited. It was always nice to have him visit–he made us all smile.. There are people all over Concordia for help and support. This is one of the blessings about being “in community” like at Concordia. It lessens our loneliness and gives us the comfort of fellowship together. Life is not perfect for anyone, but we have each other, and Christ, for support.
Awesome comment Erin. The two words we hear over and over again at Concordia are Faith and Caring, and we are blessed to have such an amazing Chaplaincy staff to embody both!