🙏Weekly Devotion June 16th, 2026

Fjeldberg – Devotion for  June 16th, 2026

READ (Proverbs 17:27)

“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”

REFLECT 

Recently I spent 3 hours with a family friend from my home area who lost a child several months ago. I mostly listened to what her life has been like since the passing of her son. 

Family and friends rarely come to us looking for a sermon. Instead they are seeking a safe space to be understood and valued for their personal and real challenges. How often do we launch into something without truly understanding what someone else is going through? It seems much easier to look at a situation from the outside and form quick assumptions and speak words that are ill timed or inappropriate. 

My young friend was frustrated by others telling her how she should feel, what she should do, and how to cope with the deepest emotional pain imaginable. She was thankful for her faith and those supporting her and her family, but felt many lacked the self awareness to truly understand the time, space, and patience needed for her to start breathing again. She could barely get out of bed and feed herself, let alone care for a household and perform her duties in the workplace. My first inclination upon listening for a few minutes was to say something that would make her pain go away. After all, I had a lifetime of wisdom and experiences, personal and otherwise, to rescue my friend, but in that moment I had nothing…… except to sit quietly with her in the dust of the moment, hold her hand, and listen. 

Tears? Yes. Pain? Yes. Prayer? Yes. Compassion? Yes. She trusted me to listen and to feel what she was feeling to the fullest extent. I was nudged by the Holy Spirit that day, and our journey continues. 

The story of Jesus about to perform the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead is a Biblical lesson. There were no lectures for Mary and Martha about having more faith when they wept, but rather he locked into their grief, stood beside them, shared their tears, and met them where they were prior to raising their brother.

How often do we miss the opportunity to offer a quiet presence when fewer words and more love can be our greatest ministry?   

PRAY   

Dear Loving Father,

Grant us the grace to listen more and speak less so that we may better understand what is most needed for those who are weary and hurting. Thank you for guiding us to lift someone’s load and love them the way Jesus loves us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen   

Devotions by Lorraine H.