The Upper Room Devotional – 28th January 2026, Wednesday Message
No Words
Carol Purves (England, United Kingdom)
Today’s Reading
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:6 (NIV)
Just before Christmas, my best friend Sandra’s husband, Doug, died of a sudden heart attack at only 59 years old. Sandra was devastated.
I found that Doug’s death brought back memories of my own bereavement years ago, but my thoughts were now all on Sandra. Their family lived far away, so as soon as I heard the news, I went to sit with her while we waited for family to arrive. She was perched on the edge of the sofa wiping her eyes, sometimes sobbing, sometimes just staring out the window in a frozen state. What could I say? Everything I could think to say sounded trite and inappropriate. No words of comfort sounded right. So I just sat beside her with my arm around her shoulder. She seemed hardly aware of my presence.
I stayed for a few hours, occasionally making a drink or sandwich, though she barely touched them, and I hardly uttered a word. I joined her grieving as she waited for her family to arrive and for the bustle of funeral arrangements to intrude on her grief. After the funeral, she said to me, “Thank you for just sitting with me. I didn’t need your words, only your presence.”
Thought for the Day
My presence can comfort those who grieve; no words are needed.
Prayer Focus
Those who are grieving
Today’s Prayer
Loving Lord, we thank you for being the ultimate comforter for those who grieve. Guide us to comfort those who mourn. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 28th January 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More