We all encounter suffering, either our own or someone else’s. Perhaps our suffering or the suffering we witness is not like Jesus’s agony on the cross or like my grandfather’s cancer journey, but in our own way we experience and witness hurt, abandonment, betrayal, loss, doubt, fear, or pain. It is hard to endure suffering and also watch another person suffer. If it is our own suffering we are facing, we tend to yearn for someone to stay with us, be present to us, and listen to us. If we are faced with another’s suffering, we may be invited to stay with the other person, to be present, even when no words can be offered. No matter which role we play, we can rest assured that Jesus is our companion in it. Jesus who was entirely human experienced the full range of humanity, good and bad.
—Excerpted from Encounter Grace by Becky Eldredge
Image by Kelin from Pixabay.
Participating in our Lenten read-along of Encounter Grace? Share your thoughts about this week’s reading in the comments below. And post your thoughts, favorite quotes, or reactions with #lentreadalong on social media.
