Sometimes Saying Less Is More

This may surprise you coming from a preacher, but people don’t always need a sermon. Sometimes, they just need a friend. They need someone to show a little compassion.

The Bible tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 NKJV).

For instance, remember the calamities that befell godly Job? He didn’t know the Lord had been bragging on in him in front of the angels and Lucifer, but he woke up one morning and one disaster after another struck his life.

He lost his children. He lost his livelihood and his possessions. He even lost his health. When his body was covered head-to-toe in massive boils, his wife came along and said, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 NKJV).

When someone you know is in pain sometimes saying less is more because sometimes when we’re trying to encourage someone, we actually say the wrong thing. We always feel like we have to have the answer or a Bible verse for each situation. But, there’s a time and a place for everything.

When our son Christopher went to be with the Lord I had a lot of people try to say things that would help me. Some things helped, and some things didn’t help as much. But, I learned a lot about what it was like to be on the receiving end of those words.

I was always the person saying things to try and bring some comfort. Then suddenly I was the one listening to those things, and I understand that people don’t always need to hear a sermon. They just need a little compassion.

The reality is that sometimes we say things to help, and they can actually end up hurting. That’s why we have to choose our words carefully.