I recently watched a TV show featuring people who were involved in reaching out to help others. It was through their own pain that they decided that reaching out to others would aid in their own healing process from pain, grief and loss. There was one lady whose story really touched my heart. She told of the story of her teen’s last words to her and his dad before he took his own life, which were, “You think I am a loser.” Then he shot and killed himself right in front of them.

You could still see the pain in this mother’s face as she relayed this very painful story. What an example of courage! This mom found the key to her own healing, by reaching out to help others while rejecting bitterness and anger!

While going through a great loss, you cannot imagine it will get any better. And the hole in your heart may never be gone until Christ returns. Take heart in knowing you are not alone, and it will get better. There is a way to cope. Reaching out to help others, helping them to pick up the pieces when they are broken is a major key for our own healing.

In The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration, I found this quote from Vera Nazarian: “A fine glass vase goes from treasure to trash the moment it is broken. Fortunately, something else happens to you and me. Pick up your pieces; then help me gather mine.” We all, from time to time, are a broken vase and many times need help in picking up the pieces so we can go on. We should also stop to help others pick up the pieces of their own broken vase so they can go on as well.

As God has reached out to us, so we should be an instrument in God’s hand to reach out and help others who are in pain. Solomon recognized the fact that people need to be comforted. In Ecclesiastes 4:1, he wrote, “Again, I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter”

Become shoulders to reach out to others

We should become shoulders for Christ to reach out and help others. Notice I wrote “shoulders” instead of “soldiers”; a shoulder for someone to lean on when they feel they cannot walk the path alone. They may need a shoulder to cry on. Give them a shoulder to help them up with your outstretched hand. Reaching out to others helps you to heal from your own wounds. 

God says in Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” And in Luke 6:38, it says, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

“Never underestimate the difference you can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help. This week reach to someone that might need a lift” ― Pablo

Use your pain to help others as the mother I mentioned in the beginning is doing. Treat others the way God treats us as noted in Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”