10 Ways to Be a Blessing to Those Who Are Struggling

Ultimately, Jesus is the example we look for in how to live the Christian life, and that includes how we help those who are suffering.

Jesus showed us many examples of what it looks like to help someone struggling, from the man let in through a roof to have his legs healed, to the Samaritan woman at the well with her complex past, to the woman with internal bleeding who touched the hem of his robe.

Whether Jesus physically healed someone, challenged them to repent and give their lives to the Lord, forgave sin, and removed shame, each interaction had a common denominator. He showed compassion and love in each instance.

That love speaks volumes to us when we have an opportunity to help someone else. Regardless of the situation, we must show God’s love, comfort, and regard for the individual. And we need to do so in the power of the Holy Spirit, “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Cor. 1:6).

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When I was dealing with a health issue years ago, I found that certain things were more helpful than others. We want to do as much as possible to serve, but we need to be mindful that we don’t overdo or overstep our boundaries.

Here are 10 ways that you can be a blessing to those who are struggling:

1. Go to God and pray for this person and their situation. Do this before you do anything else. God knows the circumstances better than anyone, so ask the Holy Spirit to equip you with what you need to do your best for this person. As you begin praying, consider the Scriptures you want to share with this person (some suggested later in this article).

2. Understand the issue. Talk to the person in need or someone they suggest you speak with from their family (or another friend, perhaps). Don’t listen to gossip or have someone apart from the situation tell you what is wrong. If possible, do a little research to understand how this person may be impacted by their trial, or try to look up some resources that may also be a blessing before you connect with that individual.

3. Ask what this person needs. Is it someone to talk to, is it tangible necessities, is it short-term or long-term? Sometimes, we assume what this person wants and what would be best for them. But you don’t want to start scheduling people to visit this individual if they prefer to rest and just talk on the phone.

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4. Listen to the thoughts and feelings that this struggle brings about for this person. We should be slow to speak and even slower to give advice. Often, this is exactly what the person needs: just someone to hear their story, validate them, and acknowledge their struggle.

5. Comfort the individual with Scripture’s truths. Again, no one knows more than God how to meet each person’s needs, so go to His word to find verses about who He is and how He relates to His children. Nothing is too difficult for Him; this person must know He is the God of all hope! Here are 43 comforting Bible verses to start. I will discuss five especially helpful verses later in this article.

6. Gather a team to back you up. It’s easy to develop compassion fatigue quickly. So find others who want to join you as a blessing to the hurting. Ideally, find people who can help without feeling like they need to fix the problem.

7. Determine if you can connect them with professional resources. Only do so if you are very knowledgeable in this area or know someone who is. But if they need a connection to community resources like a food pantry or homeless shelter, connect with your church to see where to find such resources nearby.

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8. Point them toward Jesus for the answers to their prayers—and pray with them. Give them Scripture resources so they can pray on their own. If they are not believers, ask if you can pray for them anyway. Perhaps they are willing to be led in the believer’s prayer. Can you find a book of Christian inspiration you can leave behind with them? It can be a great reminder of God’s love and care that they can read over and over.

9. Don’t try to fix the problem. It is always tempting to do this, but do not try to fix it unless there is something legitimately that you can do. Be present with them and offer comfort. You can’t, for instance, cure their cancer, but maybe they need someone to go to the store for them.

10. Be consistent. Following this step may require assistance, especially from your local church. As a hurting person, it’s hard to be forgotten after a certain period, so can you make sure they get on a prayer list at church? Or can you regularly send cards to them and have others help you do the same?

Essentially, these 10 suggestions relate to ministering to the suffering at your church. If you don’t have a church or similar group that looks after struggling people, maybe you could be part of starting one. Ensure that you look after your needs and that everyone in the group supports one another. It’s easy to want to fix everyone’s pain, but beware of going beyond what God wants you to do. He may be working in this person’s life for a specific reason, and while you want to be a blessing, you don’t want to get in the way of what God is doing.

Having considered what we can do, let’s consider some Bible verses that can help people undergoing hard times.

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1. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28)

2. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

3. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

4. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

5. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2-3)

Of course, verses to comfort people who are suffering is only part of this discussion. We also need to consider what Bible verses inspire us to comfort and support each other.

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To encourage you in your walk with the Lord and this work, meditate on these Scriptures as He uses you to serve others:

1. “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.” (Hebrews 13:16)

2. “Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so.” (Proverbs 3:27)

3. “Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.” (Philippians 2:4)

4. “Learn to do good. Seek justice: help the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)

One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from one of Peter’s letters:

5. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

And that’s exactly what we need to remember: that God has gifted each of us not for ourselves alone but to share God’s grace with others.

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