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After my wife Pat’s breast cancer surgery, a friend came to visit her in the hospital. The friend was a new believer with little Christian background. As she sat beside Pat’s hospital bed, though, she just happened to speak for God when she said, “I think that you’re going to have to let some of your friends carry your pain for you.” My wife found great comfort in her friend’s desire to help carry Pat’s pain. Had this friend experienced cancer surgery? No. Nor did she have a doctorate degree in counseling. Yet she comforted my wife with one simple sentence of hope. During my own battle with cancer thousands of people have communicated with me. A number have quoted Jeremiah 29:11 to me: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” I’m blessed whenever I read this verse. I’ve never thought, “Surely they could come up with a more original verse!” On the contrary, this verse gives me a sense of strength that this is indeed a word from God to me. Both my wife Pat and I have always appreciated Jeremiah 29:11, and I encourage you to use it in your sphere of influence. Ask God to speak through you today to a hurting friend.        This is Luis Palau.