With no one to comfort them ...

---

I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. -Ecclesiastes 4:1 NLT

---

I sometimes wonder how the gospel writers knew that Jesus was being moved by compassion to heal the sick. I think that they saw tears in the eyes of God when he saw the pain that people were in. How do the tears of people in pain affect you? I must admit that tears brings tears to my eyes. I have broke down and cried as I prayed for sick and hurting people. How can our response be less than tears when we see reports of people being oppressed around the world?

The phrase "with no one to comfort them" is such a troubling one. Sometimes life can be so hard - especially for children. Again I am drawn back to the example of Jesus Christ in the gospel stories. Time after time he seemed to seek out the folks who were hurting the most. It reminds me of that story he told of how we would be judged based on how we treated the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the sick and the imprisoned. He has called us to comfort those who cry.

Open our eyes Father to your children who cry and have no one to comfort them. Help us be your loving arms for them.

---