Scriptures as slogans

Sometimes when people are going through a difficult time they come to other Christian brothers and sisters for prayer and encouragement. It takes wisdom to know just how to respond. Recently a friend asked for prayer for a difficult situation that had been going on for a long time, and she was worn out by the struggle. The prayer time with the group of believers who were assembled was powerful and you could sense God's Holy Spirit presence in the room. When the prayer time came to an end, I sensed that my responsibility was to let my friend know that we were under the load with her and not to say much more. My natural inclination is to try to make people laugh, but there was no cheer in my friend. She had endured disappointment after disappointment and she came to the place where she couldn't go on any further. Five minutes of prayer and quoting a few scriptures weren't going to do it for her. She just needed to know that we cared.

It is tempting at times such as these to begin to quote (and occasionally misquote) our favorite scripture promises. But at times such as these, scriptures, though timeless and true, can seem like cheerleading slogans to the truly weary. So many words. "Just quote (insert your favorite scripture) when you feel this way." Or, "Your miracle is coming." Both statements may be valid and true, but at the time they may not be helpful. It is entirely possible that silence and time may be the best salve for that hurt.

In our Christian culture, we feel that we have to have a specific answer and that the person being prayed for must "receive the victory" over the situation before we leave the room. In truth, our well-meaning words may push the hurting person into denying the reality of the situation. When we cheerily quote scriptures as the magic words to make someone's pain disappear, we can actually deepen the person's despair. Don't get me wrong. Scriptures are powerful. And they are true. But sometimes, when a person has truly been worn out by the trial, it is entirely possible that our presence and our compassionate silence while we allow the person to hurt is the most effective ministry we can provide.