Just thought I'd share one thought from this weekend's message. It takes tremendous spiritual discernment to know when to comfort and when to confront.
If you comfort when you should confront, you may be short-circuiting what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in someone's life. By easing their pain you may facilitate or validate what's wrong thereby prolonging the problem. If you confront when you should comfort, you may compound the problem and wound someone even deeper. Isn't that what Job's "friends" did? They added injury to insult.
If we get this wrong, we cause problems and miss opportunities. But if we get it right, a little spiritual discernment on our part can become a defining moment for someone else. Stop and think about it. Who has really impacted your life? Isn't the people who comforted you when you needed it most. Isn't it the people who had the courage to confront something in your life and tell you what you didn't want to hear?
May God give us the spiritual discernment we need to know when you comfort and when to confront.
If you comfort when you should confront, you may be short-circuiting what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in someone's life. By easing their pain you may facilitate or validate what's wrong thereby prolonging the problem. If you confront when you should comfort, you may compound the problem and wound someone even deeper. Isn't that what Job's "friends" did? They added injury to insult.
If we get this wrong, we cause problems and miss opportunities. But if we get it right, a little spiritual discernment on our part can become a defining moment for someone else. Stop and think about it. Who has really impacted your life? Isn't the people who comforted you when you needed it most. Isn't it the people who had the courage to confront something in your life and tell you what you didn't want to hear?
May God give us the spiritual discernment we need to know when you comfort and when to confront.
6 Comments:
Well said, Mark. I wonder if people who have the gifts of prophesy and mercy may struggle the most with this issue. However, the words are full of truth and wisdom for all believers. Great insight!
Excellent point, Mark. Our response should always be tailored to the state of heart of the person we want to help. Thankfully, the Bible provides some ideas of how to discern the best approach. I don't know what you were preaching on this morning, but the most helpful Scripture in this area for me has been 1 Thessalonians 5:14 -
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."
Thanks for this post.
Great Word! Sometimes I struggle with the Grace part of it... your word today hit me right between the eyes... I have to take care of something and I didnt know how to handle it... and NOW I do. Go God!
Thanks great word, my friend sent this too me and I'm so greatful for these words of truth!
Thanks for the great word, the timing is awesome.
I know for me, I have the problem of confronting before I comfort. But a good friend of mine has the opposite problem. I have been able to learn from him in regards to having more mercy when I should. But I think that it is very important to put the Lord first in ALL that you think, feel, and do. Easier said than done of course. Great thoughts Mark, and something for myself to think about more often.
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