Romans 12:15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep (NLT).
In the year 2020, when I returned home after battling with COVID-19, a number of persons expressed their gratitude to God on my behalf and the young man who traveled with me.
Someone close to me whom I thought would join others to thank God for my healing and deliverance told me I shouldn't have embarked on that journey because he knew in his spirit it was a wrong move.What!!!
This person knew when we were planning to go. Probably, he saw the poster and the information we put out asking for support. Preparation( spiritua&physical) took about eight months. That year, we fasted and prayed extensively for a long period of time.
In those waiting months of prayer and fasting, he didn't send a word to us informing us that we shouldn't move. It was after the deed was done he spoke. When he said that, I knew it was flesh that spoke not the Spirit of God. He was being judgemental.
He is one of those persons who believe challenges is a sign that you're not in God's will. He spoke from that standpoint. I checked my spirit to see If there was a prompting I disobeyed but I found none.
More so, we didn't move during lockdown. The program held after lockdown when travel ban was lifted. We were on the good side of the law not in disobedience. If we had disobeyed, that could have been a good ground to justify his assertion.
If either of us on the trip had died, he would have been loud about his phantom revelation but God took care of that. I forgave him for his cruel remarks and continued my thanksgiving. To me, that was important. I know who sent me. Till date, our 2020 outreach was outstanding in result. He sent me, not man.
His disposition reminded me about Job's friend. They accused him of several things he didn't do. A man that needed their comfort and empathy became heart broken because they attributed his calamities to his sins. May we never have friends like that.
When God saw the damage they had done to Job's psyche, he sent a word of rebuke: "After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has ( Job 42:7 NLT).
Dearest, your attitude to those facing life's challenges should be positive and comforting. The time they're facing life's challenges isn't the time to point accusing fingers at them. Their challenge is enough to deal with, do not add to it.
The right Christian attitude is to comfort those mourning. Our attitude should mirror the work of the Holy Spirit to people in distress. We face challenges in life not because we are disobedient or sinful.
Sometimes, the righteous fight life's battles and even cry. This is a mystery I can't explain but we shall know better when we see him. Be a good support system to those facing tough times.
Do not tell someone in distress what you should have told him before making the decision that led to his ordeal. He may ask, "Why didn't you tell me before now". You'll appear like a wicked person to him because you could have given instruction that could avert his crisis.
Even If you know why certains go wrong with some people, for the fact that the deed is done in their lives, just switch to the ministry of comfort and intercession. That's the right attitude.
Be a good support system. God himself isn't happy seeing his children go through pains. He commissioned the Holy Spirit to comfort and bring succour. Flow along with God in his work of restoration and comfort.