Food For Thought #4

When a friends going through a hard time.

This is a bit of a hard topic for me to write on because I have dealt with friends going through hard times and have one now so this post is very personally driven. 

I'm pretty sure we've all been in that place where one of your friends is going through a hard time and its hard to decided just what to do. Do you flood them with encouraging emails? Do you offer to come and see them? Do you let them have space to deal with the problem? Do you just pray for them and ignore the problem? I know all these questions have run through my head at some point or another. 

The problem is there really is no defiant answer, it depends a lot on the friend and what their going through. So here are a few things you can do no matter what. 

1. Pray. 

It doesn't matter what the situation is prayer is always going to help. Sometimes I find it hard because some of my friends have hard things in there life's that I am probably never going to see the end of and so it feels pretty pointless to pray for it but I know that God is listening to me, and he's going to protect his children so I keep praying. 

2. Stick with them. 

If your friend is going through a hard time simply sticking with them may be the most comforting thing for them. Let them know your there for them and be willing to be a shoulder to lean on if they need a cry. 

3. Be there for them. 

I know some people probably think this is the same as number two but it isn't.

When your friend is going through a hard time, probably more then once they've just wanted to call someone up and talk about it but maybe didn't know someone who was available. By making time for them you may be helping them more then you know.

4. Communicate. 

Taking the time out of your day just to send them a message telling them your praying for them/you care for them is a support all to itself. It lets them know you care enough to take time out of your stuff just to message them. 

Okay, that's all the advice I have, I hope it was helpful to someone. 

 The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces. Isaiah 25:8

I know this is random but I wrote a poem awhile back about a friend of mine when she was going through a hard time so here it is: 

She sits by herself, but not in a corner

She may be alone but she is by no means a loner

People think she’s quiet, but they don’t know her

Because if they did, of her loudness they’d be sure

She smiles for everyone and everyone smiles back

But no one knows she cry’s herself to sleep when life is not even black

She cry’s over what she has lost

And the great pain it cost

No one sees her stifling her tears

So that no one hears

Oh, if she would speak of the deepest part of her heart

Perfectly composed people would fall apart

For no one could guess the battles in her soul

And that now it really is not whole

But help will come soon enough

To keep her from getting very gruff

And she will find such great love

That she had never known of

So stay strong dear one

Your fight will yet be won

-Mikayla-