How can we support others experiencing "weeping" and "crying" as in Jeremiah 48:5? Understanding Jeremiah 48:5 “For on the ascent to Luhith they will wail continually, and on the descent to Horonaim they will hear cries of distress over the destruction.” (Jeremiah 48:5) Jeremiah pictures Moab’s refugees weeping on every stretch of road—grief that cannot be hidden or hurried. God records their tears, showing He notices human sorrow and calls His people to respond. Why God Cares About Tears • Psalm 56:8—“You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle.” • John 11:35—“Jesus wept.” • Psalm 34:18—“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” Because God values every tear, we are compelled to value the tears of others. How to Support Those Who Weep 1. Be Present • Job 2:13—Job’s friends “sat with him on the ground seven days… no one spoke a word to him, for they saw his deep pain.” • Ministry often begins simply by showing up and staying. 2. Listen Before Speaking • Proverbs 18:13—“He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” • Allow the hurting person to set the pace and depth of conversation. 3. Share Their Burden • Romans 12:15—“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” • Galatians 6:2—“Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Weeping alongside someone affirms that their sorrow matters. 4. Offer Practical Help • James 2:15-16 warns against hollow sympathy. • Meals, childcare, errands, or sitting through appointments can convert compassion into concrete care. 5. Speak Truth Gently • Isaiah 40:1—“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4—God “comforts us… so that we can comfort those in any trouble.” Share Scripture promises at appropriate moments, not as clichés but as anchors of hope. 6. Pray Faithfully (Behind the Scenes or With Them) • Philippians 4:6-7—Prayer ushers in God’s peace. • Even if words fail, intercession stands in the gap. 7. Guard Against Hurtful Remedies • Proverbs 25:20—“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day… is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” Avoid minimizing pain, forcing cheerfulness, or offering trite solutions. 8. Encourage Forward Steps in God’s Timing • Lamentations 3:22-24 reminds us fresh mercies await each morning. • Gently point the grieving toward small, manageable acts of faith and normalcy when they are ready. Scriptural Reminders for the Supporter • “Let us not grow weary in well-doing.” (Galatians 6:9) • “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) As we walk with those ascending their own “Luhith” or descending into “Horonaim,” our steady presence, compassionate actions, and Scripture-shaped words become living answers to their cries—and faithful reflections of the God who records every tear. |
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