Our well thought out profound advice to the hurting, the poor, the weak, the addicted, the misunderstood, and the sick should only be given in God’s timing. In the waiting sit with them in silence. Otherwise, we can hinder His work and His way.
We live in a time when even high schoolers take their own lives and the lives of others, indulge in risky behaviors, live fake lives, pretending to have it all together, yet they are still hurting for reasons unknown. But, God knows the mysteries and needs us to work with him in the process. And, in that process sit with them and their hurting parents and families in compassionate silence with the gift of just being there. It is a form of silent prayer that takes place even when we are unaware.
When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:11-13
Silence is sharing the golden light of Christ, too. Just being there in silence is the highest faithful form of compassion. When you don’t know what to do or say you can always go and sit in silence.