How to Help Others? Express Yourself

When you’re feeling down, grieved, excited, or joyful, doesn’t it help to have a friend who understands exactly how you feel?

In the Old Testament, David was hiding in a cave for several weeks because the king wanted to kill him. In the New Testament, Paul was in prison for great lengths of time and John was secluded on an island for years – both for being followers of Christ and preachers of the gospel.

One thing each of these men had in common was their response to captivity. They all three wrote to God or to the church (other followers of God). Interestingly, each had different styles and wrote about different topics.

David’s writing was very emotional and artistic as he wrote in the forms of poetry and song.

Paul wrote letters of encouragement, wisdom, and correction.

John wrote vivid, descriptive commentary on the visions God gave him.

Although vastly different, their writings are still being used thousands of years later to inspire, comfort, correct, and encourage. Perhaps during your alone time you have something that can help someone else as well?

As a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you, just as he did in David, Paul, and John. If you give him the opportunity, he will give you the words you need to help others. Today, consider writing down your prayers, your thoughts and struggles, what you think and feel and the share them with someone else.

This is called being vulnerable.

Paul wrote of his struggles in 2 Corinthians 12 and said that when he is weak, God’s power rests on him. Because of that, he is thankful for his weakness.

Don’t be ashamed of your struggles, but know that someone else probably has the same struggle and needs to know that they are not alone. After you write these things down, pray for God to show you who to share them with. He will lead you and use your weakness for his good. Someone is waiting right now for the words you have to share with them.