In II Timothy 1:4, we find these words of Paul, “…being mindful of thy tears…”
When I was a boy in the second grade, I lived in southern California next door to a swimming pool. It was so wonderful. I couldn’t swim, but I could dog paddle. I loved the water. I would dive off of the little diving board and come up by the ladder. In the shallow end I would hold my breath and see how long I could stay under. I was allowed to be in the pool often because Chuck was my best friend. It was almost like my pool.
One day my little heart was broken when my mother told me I couldn’t go to the pool until I read a library book. I hated reading. Mom and I sat on our back step with the book. Just across the fence, only a few yards away, I could hear Chuck and his sister splashing and playing in the water. As Mom pointed to one word, and then the next word, I was to say them. “The …li…tt…. (pause)…li…(more splashing next door)….” My eyes filled up with tears. I couldn’t even see the letters.
When your heart is broken, tears will flow. Paul was in prison in Rome. Timothy was preaching in a little church in Ephesus (Of this I am not sure. In Hebrews 13:23, Paul speaks of Timothy being “set at liberty.” He also speaks of him coming “shortly.” At the end of II Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to hurry up and come to him.) Maybe Timothy had spent time in prison too.
We do know that it is Paul that wrote a letter of comfort and encouragement to Timothy. Timothy was like a son to him. At some time, he must have seen tears in Timothy’s eyes. When we see tears in another’s eyes, it is like we can get a little glimpse into their hurting heart.
Paul continued to write words to comfort and help Timothy. One of the main words to describe the Holy Spirit is “Comforter.” When we think of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it would make sense that “comforting” would be primary.
The gifts are intended for the good of the whole body. In I Thessalonians 4:18, Paul tells us to comfort one another. So often we find ourselves not knowing how to comfort. Perhaps we have not found comfort ourselves. Paul was able to comfort Timothy because he loved him (II Timothy 1:2&3) and had been praying for him night and day.
So how did Paul comfort Timothy? He called to remembrance Timothy’s faithfulness (vs. 5). He then reminds him that he has the Holy Ghost within him, and that he must draw on His power (vs. 6). He points him to the power and love of God (vs. 7-8). He comes along beside Timothy to renew his faith. He says in verse 9, that God has saved “us” and called “us” with a holy calling. Paul states his own faith and trust in God (vs. 11 & 12). Paul encourages Timothy to stay in the word and keep walking after the Holy Spirit (vs. 13 & 14).
Though Paul had much more to say to Timothy, he first wanted to lift him from his tears. Help us, God, to be sensitive to tears. Use us to comfort others, Great Comforter. Give us a love that prays night and day for a broken heart. Wash our eyes with tears, Lord, that we might see the tears of others. Help us not to forget that you looked on Jerusalem and wept, Jesus.
In Revelation 21:1-4, we see the beautiful picture of the bride adorned for her husband in the new Jerusalem. The first thing God does is wipe away all tears. Thank You, Jesus!
Yes, I did learn how to read. And I did learn how to swim. Now teach me, Lord, to comfort.
Very good blog. Thank you for getting us to think. Sometimes it is hard to know how to handle another person’s tears. The instruction to bring comfort by reminding of God’s faithfulness and the presence of the Holy Spirit and identifying ourselves in the person’s pain, if possible, is helpful. Hopefully, I will be more sensitive to others in the future. Sometimes people suffer in silence when what they really need is the comfort of the Holy Spirit.