---

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me find small ways to help a hurting friend. Amen!

Jesus went with His disciples to see His friend Lazarus, who was sick. When they got there, Lazarus had died. Jesus cried. Then He told everyone, "I am the resurrection and the life. If you believe in me, even if you die, you'll live again." He yelled into the cave where Lazarus was buried, "Come out!" And Lazarus walked out of the tomb, alive and well.

A friend tells you some awful news. Whatever it is - his parents getting a divorce, her grandmother dying, the family having money troubles - you sit there awkwardly, wanting to help but feeling totally helpless. What can you possibly do or say?

This week's Gospel (John 11:1-45) is about those first moments of feeling helpless. Jesus finds out His friend Lazarus is very sick and makes the long trip to see him - but, by the time Jesus and His disciples arrive, Lazarus has died.

The shortest verse in the whole Bible is, "Jesus wept." His friend died, and Jesus cried. Imagine how helpless He must have felt in that moment, knowing if He'd gotten there sooner, He could have talked to Lazarus and reassured His friend that heaven would be great! Instead, Jesus faced Lazarus' crying family and friends.

When you're faced with a friend's bad news, you probably struggle with those first moments of feeling awkward. Even Jesus felt that way! But you can always do something: Pat your friend on the back. Say, "That stinks. I'm sorry." Ask if your friend wants to talk more. Ask to get together and do something fun, to put aside the problem for a while.

Jesus felt so helpless when He lost a friend that He cried. Then He remembered He could do something: He could bring His friend back to life. You don't have that power, but you do have the ability to help your friend in ways that only a friend can. You're not as helpless as you think![[In-content Ad]]

---