20 ¶ As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
Christians are told when dealing with someone experiencing sorrow to weep with them, not to make light of their pain.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
As one who has gone through great grief let me say that it is very disturbing to hear some people constantly talk about how some good will come out of the situation and trying to make light of what is weighing on you like a mountain. At least Job’s friends sat with him silently for a week before they started giving the advice which God later critiqued.
Job 2:11 ¶ Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
Make light of no person’s suffering. The best thing you can do for a friend in grief is to just be there and to show your support. Don’t try to make things better because you can’t. Sorrow and grief are processes that people have to go through and although the pain they are experiencing may never go away, it will change over time.
The Christian should be sensitive to the suffering of others.
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