We tend to avoid the thorny questions which surface when we encounter people are suffering. Perhaps because on an intellectual level we really can’t find the answers. And on an emotional level the questions that surface disturb us.
In our hearts, when we encounter suffering, we find ourselves questioning God – feeling the weight of the sort of questions which the story of Job raises. Why should a good man suffer? Where is God when it hurts? Would God let a person struggle just to test them? Has God really got any power to heal or to save? How can he let Satan manipulate him? Why does he seem to hide?
We’re uncomfortable with these sort of questions because they shake our faith to the core. We struggle to find answers to them. But be encouraged by the way that Jesus turned his back on the intellectual, theological debate of the moment to embrace those who brought their children to him – the struggling ones, the suffering ones. Jesus was touched by these people, and he touched them. Not with answers to satisfy the troubled mind, but with an embrace and a blessing to soothe the troubled heart.
And that is what society’s suffering ones most want – someone to embrace them, to take them in their arms, to offer them a blessing. When we make ourselves available to someone who is suffering we realise that their terrifying questions remain – and so they should – but we also find that they find blessing through our acceptance of them and though our listening to the cries of their hearts.
So please be encouraged in your care for those who are suffering – don’t fear their questions, don’t worry about finding the right answers to satisfy them. Just embrace them, knowing that Jesus will always be with you in that moment of embrace, saying, "the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
From today's talk, Touching the suffering.
thanks for this post
on the same subject have you seen this?
http://bit.ly/Of6WFD