Pass It On

In their book False Assumptions, Henry Cloud and John Townsend tell of a Christian client they call “Roy.” Roy struggled with depression to the point where he began to think about suicide. Christian friends were concerned about him and told him, “Just trust in the Lord” and “Take some time off and rekindle your walk with God.” One friend offered the pious advice, “Just let God’s rod and staff be your comfort.” And Roy did begin to spend more time reading the Bible and in prayer. But the depression and despair finally got the best of him, and one night he sat with a loaded revolver ready to take his life.

What saved Roy’s life was a neighbor who came by to borrow a Phillips screwdriver. He sensed something was wrong, and asked Roy what was wrong. They started talking. Roy poured out his heart to this neighbor. The neighbor just listened, asked some questions, and offered no advice. He then invited Roy out to dinner, and they talked some more. When Roy got home, he unloaded his revolver and started down the road to recovery.

What Roy needed was not sanctimonious talk about God. He didn’t just need to read the Bible more or pray that much harder. No, what Roy really needed was to share his life with a friend. He needed people in his life. God was able to work through the listening ear of Roy’s neighbor in a way that was powerful. And that is often the way it is when God moves in mysterious ways. Sometimes He works through circumstance. Sometimes He parts the Rea Sea. But often, He works through people. Very often God gives us spiritual strength through the strength we borrow from other people. Paul says that God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Cor 1:4). God comforts us so that we can comfort others. Pass it on.