The love of Christ in us enables us to "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." (Rom 12:15) We are exhalted to show His love to the world. (Matthew 25: 35-40) Showing His love to the "least of these" requires action on our parts.
Many times, godly people want to do something to show they care for someone going through a difficult time, but are hesitant for fear their expression of Christ's love will be rejected or resented. Fear is not of the Lord and I do not believe hesitant Christianity is either.
The only permission you need to reach out to someone in Christian love is your Father's. You do not need to wonder if it will be welcomed or rejected. That is between God and the recipient. If they reject you, don't take it personally, they are rejecting Christ.
If God has equipped you with a way to minister to another through a similar experience, you should do it and soon. He tells us it is through our own trials that we learn how to "comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
If you feel God's leading to do something, do it! He says "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17)
Upon God's leading, Clint and I have reached out many times to strangers during their personal crisis and never once have we been rejected. Instead, they welcomed the fact that our family cared enough to be moved into action on their behalf. Some of them have become steadfast friends of ours. A card, a shared story with what helped us through something similar, a monetary gift to those undergoing financial hardships, a candle, a teddy bear, meals, a "just because" gift, etc--all have been well received. We have often been told we were the only ones who did something kind for them. That says some very sad things about the Body of Christ, don't you think? Don't assume someone else is reaching out; you might be the only example of Christ's love they experience!
Love is an action verb! Let Christ move you into action to show His love to another soul. Be His Hands and Feet. It will bring you to a new level of faith and joy.
