How can Proverbs 25:20 guide us in comforting those who are grieving? The Word Picture in Proverbs 25:20 “Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” (Proverbs 25:20) Removing a coat on a chilly day leaves a person exposed and shivering. Pouring vinegar on soda creates a harsh, fizzing reaction. In the same way, forced cheerfulness or upbeat clichés jar the soul of someone who is grieving. What Not to Do with the Grieving • Avoid platitudes such as “God needed another angel,” “At least they’re in a better place,” or “You’ll get over it soon.” • Don’t change the subject quickly or act impatient. • Skip social media one-liners or emojis in place of real presence. • Resist pushing them into activities meant to “take their mind off it” too soon. Scriptural Model for Empathy • Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” • Job 2:13: Job’s friends “sat on the ground with him seven days… and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” • Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us there is “a time to weep.” • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 shows God Himself “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Practical Ways to Offer Comfort • Listen more than you talk; silence can be a warm coat. • Use gentle, truthful words like “I’m so sorry” or “I’m here with you.” • Offer tangible help—meals, childcare, errands—without waiting to be asked. • Share a Scripture softly, not as a quick fix but as living truth (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 41:10). • Remember important dates (anniversaries, birthdays) and check in. • Pray for them privately and, when invited, aloud with them, asking God’s comfort to surround them. • Stay available for the long haul; grief seldom follows a tidy timetable. Why This Matters to God Christ bore our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4) and calls us to mirror His compassionate heart. Obeying Proverbs 25:20 means clothing the grieving with warmth, not stripping them bare; soothing them with grace, not stinging them with misplaced cheer. This loving obedience honors both the sufferer and the God whose Word is perfectly true. |
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