Weekly Roundup: Comforting Sufferers
Last week, I shared resources on stories of suffering. This week’s roundup has some resources on how to love and help those who are suffering.
Resources
Suffering and Psalm 119 | David Powlison | The Journal of Biblical Counseling
This is my favorite biblical counseling article from one of the most gifted biblical counselors, on a Bible chapter you wouldn’t expect. Read it and weep. If you don’t know David Powlison, you can see an interview of him here, read a summary of his life and ministry here, and hear a personal story of influence here.
Some Thoughts On Ministering to the Sick and Dying | Kevin DeYoung | The Gospel Coalition
This is a hard, hard thing to do well. I wish I knew these ten things ten years ago.
Why We Added a Prayer of Lament to Our Sunday Gathering | Neal Woollard | 9Marks
Lament is a biblical way to process grief. It gives us the opportunity to face and name our pain and then to create space for future hope—all without glossing over tragedy. It allows us to cry and rage and even protest life’s difficulties to God and others without fear of judgment. It gives us permission to ask How God? Why God? It’s often raw and emotional. And that’s okay. The Bible gives space for God’s people to do this.
Mez McConnell is probably the best person I know of to write this article. If you haven’t heard of him, go here, here, and here.
Three Things to Remember When Giving Comfort to Grieving People | Randy Alcorn
Three more things to remember as you’re ministering: (1) To ignore someone’s pain is to add to that pain; (2) There is a time for silence, to just sit and listen and weep with those who weep; (3) Don’t disappear or avoid your friend who needs you now more than ever.
The Suffering Arms Race | Nate Brooks | Biblical Counseling Coalition
There are two ways Christians tend to respond to suffering: “My suffering isn’t really suffering” or “You just wait, you whiney wimp”. Both are wrong, and this article shows why.