Don't shy away

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15 NLT)

We all know it is easier to be happy with someone than it might be to come alongside them when they grieve, feel under the weather, or are just plain depressed. "Sadness" is a condition that has a profound impact on our minds, bodies, and even our spirit. Unwanted life events, unexpected health concerns, and even a lack of sleep can lead a person into times of feeling more than a bit 'off' in some form, right? How do we handle those moments when they are not our own - when another isn't 'quite right'? Scripture reminds us to be there for them - to come alongside and even to feel their sadness and grief.

Ups and downs come - they are part of life. We cannot avoid some of them, even if we try. Things like relationship woes might not be the easiest to deal with, but they come, don't they? Health fails us at some point, no matter how well we take care of ourselves. The events of life are going to happen - will we be there when they do? While we all might want to be there when someone is happy, we don't always run toward those who are experiencing life's woes, do we? There is just something about the 'burden' someone is carrying during those 'unhappy seasons' that might make us want to shy away.

That burden wasn't meant to be shouldered alone, though. The individual attempting to 'soldier on' in the midst of grief, anxiety, hurt, failure, or even tragic loss shouldn't have to do so alone. God's plan has always been for us to have 'community' - those we can go through life with in both the good and the 'not so good' times. That individual might just need to hear that God isn't asking them to 'soldier on' all by themselves - they have us to help them navigate through those hard places. They not only have us, but they also have the strength of our prayers. We can lift them up to his throne room and seek his interventions even when they don't have the strength to do it themselves.

It is said that anyone can make your cry, but it takes someone special to make your smile when you already have tears in your eyes. Be that someone today - the someone who identifies with the emotions of another who is struggling with something in their life that they might not have anyone else to share it with. Don't shy away from the hard emotions - they can bring the deepest and most lasting relationships that you will ever experience. Just sayin!