When He's Hurting

TRUTH
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 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 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

TALK TO GOD
Lord, too many men have not received comfort from their parents while growing up. Boys are often taught to “buck up” and not express emotion. It is very possible that my husband does not fully understand the concept of receiving comfort or providing comfort to others. Help me remember that he is still growing in his understanding of these things. I pray that he will become more aware of the comfort You offer him when life is hard. As he learns more about Your comfort, may he also be able to comfort others with the comfort he has received from You. When my husband needs comfort from me, remind me to feel with him and not immediately try to fix things, so that he can experience Your comfort flowing through me. Give me compassion and empathy when my husband is hurting. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THINK
Consider how comfort was handled in the home where you grew up. Were you expected to simply “buck up”? Were emotions allowed to be expressed?

TAKE ACTION
The next time your husband has a bad day or seems moody, walk up to him and give him a lingering hug—hold him a little longer than usual. Don’t try to fix anything or offer solutions. Simply say, “I can only imagine how hard that was.”