Help Others Deal With Stress - BE COMPASSIONATE

Unlike Lot, Job did not suffer because of some bad decision he made. Yet, he experienced severe calamities, losing his possessions, his status in the community, and his good health. Even worse, he and his wife lost all their children in death.  Job was also accused by three false friends. What is one reason why Job's three false comforters lacked compassion for him?  They saw only the outward appearance of his situation.  As a result, they jumped to the conclusions and judged Job harshly. How can we avoid making similar mistakes?  Realize that only Jehovah knows all the facts about a person's situation. Listen  carefully to what the suffering  person says.  Do more than hear his words, try also to feel his pain. Only then will you be able to show genuine feeling for your brother or sister.

Compassion will hold us back from spreading harmful gossip about the problems others are facing. A gossiper does not build up the congregation, he tears it down. (Proverbs 20:19; Romans 14:19)  He is not kind but thoughtless, and his words can injure a person who is already suffering.  (Proverbs 12:18; Ephesians 4:31, 32)  How much better it is when we look for a person's good qualities and think about how we can help; him or her deal with trials! 

Read Job 6:2, 3. Job, at times, engaged in "wild talk."  Still, he later took back some of the things he had  said. (Job 42:6)  Like Job a person today who is enduring a stressful problem may give in to wild talk saying things that he later regrets.  How should we respond?  Rather than being critical, we should be compassionate.  Remember that Jehovah did not intend for any of us to have the  problems and stresses we face today. So it is understandable if a faithful servant of Jehovah speaks thoughtlessly when under great stress.  Even if he says inaccurate things about Jehovah or about us, we should not quickly become angry at him or judge him for saying such things. - PROVERBS 19:11.

At times, a person who is coping with a stressful problem also needs to receive some form of counsel or helpful discipline. (Galatians 6:1) How can elders handle this challenge?  They do well to imitate Elihu, who  listened to Job with great empathy.  (Job 33:6, 7)  Elihu offered his counsel only after he understood Job's thinking. Elders who follow Elihu's example will listen carefully and try to understand the person's situation. Then, when they offer counsel, they are more likely to reach the heart of there listener.

Next time: Help Others Deal With Stress - SPEAK CONSOLINGLY

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