We can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
The loving thing we can do when someone is in pain is to share the pain- to "be there," even when we've nothing to offer except our presence, even when being there is painful to ourselves.
Paul says that God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." One of the fastest and surest routes to spiritual health is taking the focus off ourselves and helping others.
In fact we were born with a natural empathy for those who are hurting. Ever notice that babies in a nursery start crying when other infants cry?
Compassion, which literally means "to suffer with," is the ability to be moved by the troubles of others. When we reach out from our own pain to help others it comes back to us in healing, fulfillment and a sense of worth.
Jack Canfield says, "You take it all in. You let the pain touch your heart and you turn it into compassion. What a splendid way to go through life, bringing blessing to all we touch."
One cancer patient said, "What helps me most is just to have somebody try and understand what I'm feeling."
Another said, "Just sit here and let me hold your hand. It helps when someone's close."
Today ask God to make you more sensitive to the needs and hurts of those around you. And when He answers your prayer and puts someone into your path, don't be too busy to care.
In other words, "be there!"
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