Helping the Hurting

How do we help those who are hurting? And why are we often afraid to? I am convinced one of the reasons we often hesitate is that it hurts. When we sympathize with those who hurt, we suffer with them (Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26,27; 2 Corinthians 11:26,29). As C. S. Lewis points out in his book "The Four Loves," if you love someone, even an animal, you risk being hurt. But the alternative is to have an heart of impenetrable stone, which is the exact opposite of what God is and what He wants us to be. We are called to be people who really care (Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:1-3; Hebrews 12:12,13). Therefore, to be willing to help the hurting, we need to trust God to work in us to make us able to reach out to people (2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:28,29). Then we will be imitators of Christ, who gave His life to save us (Philippians 2:3-11; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 John 3:16). But this can often be hard to do. It is easier to keep people at arms' length and mumble a few cliches. But it is what God commands.