Being There: The Practical Gift of Presence in Suffering

# Presence

Greg Laurie's devotion "Being There" uses a simple, personal framework to show how presence functions as a form of ministry. He pulls together a short Bible verse, a family vignette, and a personal memory of grief to show how comfort works in everyday life and church settings.

Scripture anchor

The devotion begins with 2 Corinthians 1:3–4: "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." This verse frames comfort as both received and passed on: God's comfort equips believers to comfort others.

A concrete example: a scraped back and an ice pack

The point of the anecdote is tactical. When pain is present, attention, physical proximity, and comfort items are often exactly what a person needs. You do what you can, then you wait with them while healing—or at least relief—happens.

Grief and the ministry of presence

Laurie applies the same principle to deeper, longer pain: grief. He recalls his own season of suffering after the death of his son and says the greatest gift people offered him was simply being present. Rather than pressing him with difficult or premature questions, people chose to sit with him in silence and companionship. That restraint is presented as a moral and pastoral skill: knowing when to hold space rather than to probe.

Practical implications

• Offer steady attention. Sometimes the best first response is to be with someone rather than to solve their problem immediately.
• Combine small practical acts with emotional availability. An ice pack or a hug can matter as much as words.
• Avoid premature questions. Give people the time and safety to open up on their terms.
• Practice this as a community. Churches and small groups can cultivate an environment where people bring their hurts without fear of quick judgment or canned answers.

Conclusion

"Being There" reframes comfort as a learned behavior: receive comfort, then give it. The discipline is quiet but active—stillness plus available hands. The devotional ends with a reflective prompt: recall a time when someone gave you the gift of presence, and consider how you can offer that same gift to others in your faith community.