When friends hurt, you want to help. But it’s hard to know what to say, especially when you’ve never trudged in their shoes. Trying to help others, do you ever respond in these ways? ·Quoting Bible verses about suffering ·Explaining the reasons for their struggle ·Trying to discover what they did to cause the pain ·Talking about your troubles instead of listening ·Fixing the problem so they won’t suffer anymore According to Kevin Huggins, a seasoned counselor, these responses may stem from good intentions, but they don’t help the hurting find the resources to grow and serve God through their struggles. Instead, people in pain need "life words"––words that sensitively point strugglers toward building character and drawing closer to God, despite the agony. They offer the safety and compassion that leads to true change rather than to the masking of feelings. If you want to inspire positive change, offer words that heal instead of hurt. Give people the gift of friendship counseling.