Sharing God’s Comfort with Others
God tells us in his Word that the primary reason he comforts us is so that we may comfort others. When I began to deal with anxiety I felt guilt and shame. As a Christian I felt that I should not be experiencing this because I believed it meant that I did not have faith. As someone in the mental health field, I was embarrassed to be helping others experiencing all kinds of problems when I myself was dealing with a “mental health” problem. For these reasons I have been for the most part private about my shenanigans w/ anxiety.
Not so long ago I was reading about pride in a bible study called Seeking Him. In it I learned that not sharing with others our weaknesses for fear of what they might think is a form of pride. Oops! I was definitely guilty. As I meditated more and more on it I understood this truth. Instead of sharing with others our weaknesses, we smile and pretend we have it all together. Then those people around us, struggling themselves, are left thinking to themselves “Wow, look at her. She’s got it all together. If only she knew what I was dealing with!” It is not that we are to run around telling everyone all of our business but we should use the opportunities God gives us to share with others how he has blessed us through our weaknesses.
Soon after I started thinking this way a co-worker of mine called me to her office in tears because she had just experienced a panic attack. Right away I realized this was my chance to share the comfort God had given me in similar situations. As I shared with her my own experiences, she began crying and stated “thank you God!”. She said she felt alone in this and didn’t know anyone else who knew what it was like. Had I patted her in the back and told her I would pray for her I would have missed the opportunity God had placed right in front of me. Many times I have wished to find other Christians who can identify with the struggles of an anxiety disorder. That day with my coworker I realized that I needed to also be that person others can find encouragement from but that can only happen by opening up about my own story.
We are all broken people in need of God’s mercy and grace. I pray that God helps us not pretend otherwise. He has not comforted us in our dark times so that we may feel better and end of story. No, he has done it so that we may pass it on to those in need of the hope that is found in Christ. So pass on God’s grace today when you find someone traveling the same broken road you have.
Tags: anxiety, comfort, God, pride, shame, weaknesses
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December 6, 2009 at 9:56 pm
You make a good point. We are all broken people in need of God’s mercy and grace. And the point you make about comforting others when we have been through a similar experience is also true. When my depression is bad, the last person in the world I want to talk to about it is someone who doesn’t understand. But to talk to someone who knows that journey, is a comfort! That is why your blog can help others. You understand. And by describing some of your experiences, we can all feel less alone. Thanks for sharing. Oh and I love the picture!
December 7, 2009 at 7:52 am
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is such an awesome verse, it encourages me greatly to share what I’ve been through.
That’s great you were able to share with a co-worker about panic attacks. And it so true, so many people whom we assume ‘have it all together’ are just as messed up as we are or have been.
December 8, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Wendy- I agree, there is nothing like talking to someone who understands where you have been. May God continue to help people open up abut their own stories so that others can be blessed.
Thanks Peter. Your honesty in your own blog about what you went through and have overcome is certainly 2 Cor 1:3-4 in action!