Your Friends Need You to Share Their Pain

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES When You're Hoping for a Miracle

Your Friends Need You To Share Their Pain By Rick Warren — Jul 18, 2016 “Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down” (Romans 12:15 MSG). The interesting thing about pain and joy is that whenever you share a joy, it gets doubled. But it’s the opposite with pain. When you share a pain, it’s halved. When your friends are going through a crisis, they need you to help carry the load and lessen the pain. When I’m talking about sharing the pain with your friends, I’m not talking about sympathy. Sympathy says, “I’m sorry you hurt.” People don’t need your sympathy. They need your empathy. Empathy says, “I hurt with you.” Sympathy stands at a distance. Empathy draws close. The ultimate form of love is compassion. Compassion says, “I’ll do anything I can to stop your hurt.” When you read the Bible, you’ll find that Jesus was repeatedly moved with compassion. He was willing to do whatever he could to stop others’ hurt, including going to the cross. He was willing to die to stop your hurt. That’s compassion. The Bible says in Romans 12:15, “Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down” (MSG). That means cry with them. Weep with those who weep. What do friends do? They show up. They share the pain, and they shut up. They don’t give pious platitudes. They don’t give advice. They don’t try to talk a friend out of his pain. They don’t say, “It’s going to be OK.” They just say, “We’re going to sit here with you. We’re going to be here for you. We’re going to hurt with you.” PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Who are some ways you can show compassion to a friend who is hurting? Describe a situation where it's best not to say anything but instead just be present.  Our Gift: God's Power to Change Your Life Book God is all about changing lives. He can help you through any struggle you’re facing, and take you from where you are to where you want to be. In God’s Power to Change Your Life, Rick Warren lays the groundwork for personal transformation, offering biblical insights on what it takes to become more loving, live more peacefully, develop patience, and have self-control. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren When You're Hoping for a Miracle teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: When You're Running Out of Everything Message 2: When You Can't See Your Way Clearly Message 3: When You've Come Up Empty Message 4: When You Feel You're Sinking Message 5: When A Marriage Has Ended Message 6: When You're Drowning In Debt Message 7: When A Friend is Dying PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe