Years ago, I served as a chaplain for my Boy Scout troop, and that experience regularly helped me step out of my comfort zone. During a campout one night, there were some older boys in my troop making fun of a younger kid. Let's call him Jack. They weren't doing it to Jack's face, but I suspect he heard the utterly demeaning comments against him.
When I went into the room where several boys, including Jack, were assigned, I found him sitting by himself while everyone else was playing and joking around. I asked someone if they knew what was wrong, and one of the boys explained what had happened and why he was upset. I wondered why none of them had helped him through his sorrow even though they knew he was hurt.
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." —1 Thessalonians 5:11
I went up to Jack's bunk and talked to him. He said he felt useless and like a mistake, a failure, a flaw of the human race, and that God must not care about him. He said he wanted to die so no one else would have to suffer with his annoyance and flaws. My heart was broken for him.
Right before the campout, I was listening to Peter Furler's album, On Fire, and the song entitled "Psalm 23". In the Bible, Psalm 23:1-6 goes like this: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever" (NKJV).
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." —Matthew 18:20
Because the psalm was in my mind, I read it to Jack, telling him that, despite what others thought, he was still protected by the Lord, and God could and would protect him against ALL evil. I then read him another personal favorite, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (NKJV). I hoped that this would reinforce the message that God loved him, that Jack was "enough"—just as he was—to give His ONLY Son to save him.
Scripture has an amazing power to touch a hurting heart. Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." God's Word has an effectiveness that cannot be matched.
Finally, Jack and I prayed together. I hope he felt redeemed by the Lord. I hope he felt protected by his Heavenly Father. My prayer for him was that he remembered that, no matter his perceived "flaws," Jesus would always love him and accept him—just as he is. My prayer for YOU is that you will be brave enough to help and encourage another person with Scripture when you see them hurting.
"We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." —2 Corinthians 4:9 (NLT)
Scripture has an amazing power to touch a hurting heart. Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." God's Word has an effectiveness that cannot be matched. May you be brave enough to help and encourage another person with Scripture when you see them hurting.
Alex Cadman produces videos for 412teens through his production company, Cadman Film. He wishes to serve the Lord in all the ways he can.
