Sharing in Sorrow

The new ones whom the Lord burdened me to shepherd and care for have become so precious to me, even as they are precious to the Lord. Be it their spiritual lives or their earthly careers, I have been so concerned for them. Often I would pray with them and encourage them.

Perhaps, for my learning and theirs too, somehow, the three of these ones for whom I am specially burdened for, could not succeed in their competitive exams thus far. I have a deep burden for these ones to be able to clear the highest competitive exams of the country, the civil services of India. And that they would be a testimony of the Lord as high ranking officers. However, God's ways are the best and His timing too.

When I heard the result of these brothers, I was sorrowful as I knew the sorrow they went through after much studies, labor and pain. I was in fact, privileged to share in their sorrow, though I have not spoken to them yet. The pain that they would have been going through even now, is the pain that I am sharing with them. Their result is mine too.

As I took their matter before the Lord in prayer, the Lord comforted me with a hymn which I read and read and sang and later on posted via WhatsApp to many of my contacts; in fact, that was the portion I experienced and it help some brothers too.

1	Take time to behold Him,   Speak oft with Thy Lord, Abide in Him always,   And feed on His Word. Wait thou in His presence,   Submissive and meek, Forgetting in nothing   His blessing to seek.
2	Take time to behold Him,   The world rushes on; Spend much time in secret   With Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus   Like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends, in thy conduct,   His likeness shall see.
3	Take time to behold Him,   Let Him be thy guide; And run not before Him   Whatever betide; In joy or in sorrow   Still follow thy Lord, And, looking to Jesus,   Still trust in His Word.
4	Take time to behold Him,   Be calm in thy soul, Each thought and each temper   Beneath His control. Thus led by His Spirit   To fountains of love, Thou then shalt be fitted   His mercy to prove.                                                      Hymn #643

In joy or in sorrow still follow thy Lord. And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

This is the line that touched me so much, and this has become my encouragement to others.

I am glad that I could learn to share in the sorrows of others, caring for them and praying for them. This is how the Lord teaches me lessons of shepherding. Walking with the new ones, step by step. This is how the Lord has been leading me through, step by step, even He will lead me through unto the end.

Take time to behold Him,
  Let Him be thy guide;
And run not before Him
  Whatever betide;