You don’t have to look far to find someone who’s struggling.
In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked about God’s greatest commandment. Was it one of the 10 Commandments, or was it one of the statutes in the Mosaic law? Could it be something that God hasn’t revealed yet? Jesus said to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, which is the greatest and first commandment. The second is similar: love your neighbor as yourself, as detailed in Matthe 22:37-39. Regardless of who your neighbor is, we can’t love without serving in Jesus’ name.
with your church to see where to find these resources nearby.
Point them toward Jesus and pray with them.
Give them biblical resources so they can pray by themselves. If they’re not believers, ask if you can pray for them anyway. Maybe they’re willing to be led in the believer’s prayer. Can you find a Christian inspiration book to leave with them? It can be a great reminder of God’s care and love that they can read over and over. However, do your best to try not to fix the problem. It’s always tempting to do this, but don’t try to fix it unless there’s something you can do. Be present and offer comfort. For example, you can’t cure their cancer, but maybe they need someone to grocery shop for them.
Lastly, you should be consistent. Following this step may require help, especially from your local church. As someone who’s suffering, it’s difficult to be forgotten after a certain time, so can you make sure they get on a prayer list at church or regularly send cards to them and have others help you do the same? Essentially, these suggestions relate to ministering to those who are suffering at your church, but if you don’t have a church or a similar group that helps struggling people, perhaps you could be part of starting one. Ensure that you look after your needs and that everyone in the group supports each other.
It’s easy to want to fix people’s pain, but be wary of going beyond what God wants you to do. God might be working in this person’s life for a specific reason, and while you want to be a blessing, you don’t want to get in God’s way.
