Change can sometimes be painful. Think about a time in your life when you experienced change and suffered because of it...

Now, think about how it feels when someone you love is going through a painful change: does it feel any better? Some would say yes, but there are certain cases when your empathy can inspire more intense pain.

My first instinct is to jump in with some sort of rescue attempt, but I am not Superman, and neither are you. So what is our role when loved-ones suffer? Forget our role, what CAN we do?

We are prone to anxiety. It's a fact that when we experience stress we get anxious, nervous, and even scared. Much of that feeling comes from a realization of exactly how powerless we are to stop it from happening.

The Bible speaks about anxiety and it's relationship with prayer. As a support structure for your friends, prayer is your key weapon - just look:

Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB) - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

the HOLY hero: I believe that we are empowered with the Holy Spirit to beseech the one true God and ask Him to intercede in the lives of our loved ones. I also believe that He is faithful to answer prayer, although it might not be the answer we want to hear. However, the HOLY hero is one that asks God to intercede in a spiritual, physical, or supernatural way for his/her loved ones.

the FIX - the message in Philippians doesn't cease at verse 7. This is something that's paramount in the context - we aren't just to pray and hope, but we are to focus, to focus!

The Wiktionary Definition:
Focus - To concentrate one's attention.
Dwell - To live; to reside.

Philippians 4:8-9 - Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

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