Sarah, the wife of Abraham, had passed away. She had been his companion for many years through every journey, every promise, every joy, and heartache. And Abraham did what anyone would do after losing someone they love deeply: he wept. He didn’t avoid his grief. He sat in it, felt it, and honored her with his tears.
Genesis 23:2-3 – “And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth…”
But then, he stood up.
Not because the sorrow disappeared, or because he stopped loving her, but because life was still moving forward. There were things to be done, and a future that still held God’s promises.
And Abraham stood up from before his dead These words are a reminder that grief is real and necessary, but so is rising again. Many of us have sat too long beside the memories of what we’ve lost, whether it’s a person, a dream, or a part of ourselves.
Just like the bible says, there’s a time to mourn, and there’s also a time to rise.
Getting up doesn’t mean forgetting. It means choosing not to stay stuck. It means believing that God’s plan for your life isn’t over, even when it feels like something important is gone.
Maybe your “Sarah” was a relationship, a job, a chapter of life, a contract, or a version of yourself you miss. Whatever it is, know this: you can grieve, and you can also move forward.
Learn how to know a good friend. Look at the following scenario and pick up lessons from it.
Ade didn’t say a word. He sat still and quiet while his friend cried. Tola, his best friend at school, just lost his dad and they were in his friend’s room right now.
Tola’s pillows were wet with his tears, the bed covers rough and halfway down on the floor.
His cries echoed throughout the room as he laid on the bed.
There was nothing Ade could do other than to sit and wait for his friend to talk when he felt like it.
Though deeply saddened to see his friend like this, there was nothing he could do, but to pray that God would comfort Tola for the loss and of course, stay by his side.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. – Proverbs18:24
When a friend is in a state like Tola is, the only thing to do is pray for them like Ade is doing and ensuring that you are by them. Don’t try to talk unless they ask you to or do so themselves.
Never expect them to hurry out of their grief or tell them to. They need the time to grieve and mourn their loss as much as they have to.
All they need is your silence and presence. They need your support.
That is what is it means to hold the hand of a friend. You let them know that you are available for them. Your care doesn’t have to be in words but in action most times.
Only God will comfort them for their loss as the bible tells us.
May the Lord make you a good friend at all times. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, make me a good friend that will be there for my friends when they are in their lowest moments. Help me to hold their hands all through in Jesus name, amen.
Action plan: When next you see a friend going through a tough time, pray for and support them.
John didn’t say a word. He sat still and quiet while his friend cried. Tunji, his best friend at school, just lost his dad and they were in his friend’s room right now. Tunji’s pillows were wet with his tears, the bed covers rough and halfway down on the floor. His cries echoed throughout the room as he laid on the bed. Who could comfort Tunji?
There was nothing John could do other than to sit and wait for his friend to talk when he felt like it. Though deeply saddened to see his friend like this, there was nothing he could do, but to pray that God would comfort Tunji for the loss. And of course, stay by his side.
When a friend is in a state like Tunji is, the only thing to do is pray for them like John is and ensuring that you are by them. Don’t try to talk unless they ask you to or do so themselves. Never expect them to hurry out of their grief or tell them to. They need the time to grieve and mourn their loss as much as they have to. All they need is your silence and presence. They need your support. Be there to comfort them.
That is what is it means to hold the hand of a friend. You let them know that you are available for them. Your care doesnt have to be in words but in action most times.
Only God will comfort them for their loss as the bible tells us.
May the Lord make you a good friend at all times. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, make me a good friend that will be there for my friends when they are in their lowest moments. Help me to hold their hands, in comfort, all through. In Jesus name, amen.
Action plan: When next you see a friend going through a tough time, pray for and support them; comfort them.
