He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.~2 Corinthians 1:4-5
One thing that God has given me is a sensitive heart to encourage and comfort those that are hurting: my friends, associates, and people I barely know. Sometimes as humans, it's so easy to look at someone, and assume (and you know what they say about assuming) that they have an attitude or they're mean. Or maybe someone you know is the complete opposite, and always has always has a smile on their face, but they're trying to disguise what's really going on inside. In reality, they may truly be hurting, and it's just showing outwardly or they're trying to cover it up, and you have no idea what they're struggling with or battling. People are suffering in silence for TONS of various reasons: depression, loneliness, grieving the loss of a loved one, financial hardship, suffering from mental illness, toxic relationships, experiencing domestic violence (physical and/or mental), feeling stuck in life, substance abuse, the list goes on and on. Yes, sometimes people do just have a chip on their shoulder. But thayts not always the case. So I say all of this to say, be a blessing to someone. Ask God to use you to bless someone, for reasons beyond your understanding. Maybe He'll give you a word of encouragement and let them hear what they need to hear to brighten their spirit. Maybe He'll lead you to pray with them. Maybe He'll lead you to have an intimate discussion with them because they have no one to talk to. Something I've found to happen, is that maybe He'll lead you to talk to them because you've overcome something they may be struggling with, and you can help guide them through. Whatever the purpose or reason, we need to learn to be compassionate and empathetic so God can use us to be a living and walking example of the love He's shown us.
So not only this holiday season, but daily, be mindful that people are battling some tough situations. Be a shoulder for them to cry on, lend an ear to listen, but most importantly, pray for them and/or with them. Don't mistake the wall someone has put up for an attitude, because chances are its much deeper than that. I'm trying hard to be that woman, to set myself aside, and uplift people, because people are hurting. So whatever I can do to make a difference in their life, and help them, I will. I want God to use me. I'm praying for discernment to recognize those that are hiding behind a smile, or a wall.
