Binding Up The Brokenhearted

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted," (Isaiah 61:1).

You just received a phone call that your best friend, Mary's daughter was killed in a car crash. Susie was 18, a good girl, but she made an unwise decision to get into a car with teens that had been drinking.

You're still holding the phone as you try to think, What do I do now? First you pray, Oh dear Jesus, please fill Mary with Your strength and peace. Please comfort her and guide those who are closest to her. Help them to listen to Your guidance. Amen, and then you go. If you have food available, you take that, or you buy practical items such as paper plates, tissues, and other paper products, but then you go, as soon as possible.

When you see Mary, you don't need to say anything, in fact, it's best if you say as little as possible. "I'm so sorry," is quite enough. Give Mary a hug and cry with her. Do you tell her that you have confidence that Susie is with Jesus? Yes, but only if Mary brings up that issue. Do you give your opinion on much of anything? Perhaps, but only if Mary brings up that issue and asks for your opinion.

With Isaiah we can know that God wants us to bind up the brokenhearted, not explain why this happened or even evangelize, but at that very moment, He was us to bind up their broken heart and just stay close.

Marilyn