If one member suffers...

Scripture describes the church as a body, one community deeply connected. When one member suffers, the whole body feels it. Even a tiny bruise or a small cut affects the entire person. In the same way, the hurt of one believer is never theirs alone. It becomes something the whole community feels and carries together.

In this scene from The Chosen, Thomas is grieving, completely overwhelmed by the loss of Ramah. Peter tries to comfort him, but this is not a situation that can be fixed. There are two beautiful things to notice here:

1. Peter’s posture and experience

Peter wants to help, but he has no idea how. The freeing truth is that he doesn’t have to. He simply needs to be present and listen.

People who have been comforted rarely say, “Thank you for having the perfect solution.” Instead, they say, “Thank you for being there when I couldn’t see the way forward and felt so alone.”

Are you available to simply be there for someone?

2. Comfort received becomes comfort given

Peter has gone through his own grief, and he draws on that experience to support his friend.

2 Corinthians encourages us that God is our source of true comfort. He draws near with compassion to strengthen and sustain us through difficult seasons. And the comfort He gives is not meant to end with us – it is meant to flow through us.

The comfort we receive equips us to comfort others. You are not meant to carry pain alone, and neither are the people around you.

Reflection Questions

• When have you been comforted by someone? What stood out from that experience?
• How are you there for others in times of need? How does that look in your church or faith community?
• In what way is Jesus an example of comfort and compassion for you?
• Where do you see opportunities around you to offer comfort?

Prayer

Lord, there is so much pain and need — both near and far, in my own heart and in the world around me. Thank You for the comfort You offer during times and situations we don’t understand. Teach us to learn from You and to draw near to those who need comfort, so that we may comfort them as You do. Amen.