Monday May 12
“A
despairing man should have the devotion of his friends.” Job 6:14 NIV
WE
ALL NEED SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT
In the summer of 1989, Mark Wellman, a paraplegic,
gained national recognition by climbing the tower granite face of El Capitan at
Yosemite National Park. On the seventh and final day of his climb, a headline
in The Fresno Bee read: “Showing a will of granite.” Accompanying the
headline was a photo of Mark Wellham being carried on the shoulders of his
climbing companion Mike Corbett. The caption underneath read: “Paraplegic and
partner prove no wall is too high to scale.” What most people don’t know was
Mike Corbett had already scaled El Capitan three times, in order to help
Mark Wellman pull himself up once. Sympathy addresses our struggles;
support gives us strength to overcome them. Sympathy says, “I understand what
you’re going through and I’m here for you.” It meets two fundamental needs: the
need to be understood, and the need to have our feelings validated. It’s when
life comes crashing in on us that we need our friends the most. In the midst of
his suffering Job cried out, “A despairing man should have the devotion of his
friends.” We all need sympathy and support, because we all stumble and need help
getting back up. So we need to offer them to others, and be willing to receive
them in return. The Bible says, “When people sin, you should forgive and
comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair” (2Co 2:7 CEV). It takes grace
to create and maintain true fellowship.But the good news is, you’ll never be
asked to extend more grace to others than God has extended to you.
Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional
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