The commonality we all share is that we each take up residence within this world and yet, in spite of that, we are worlds apart from one other.
During these past months of our own traumatic situation and suffering I’ve discovered that no-one can truly enter into our world of suffering. There is not a single person on this planet that can fully 100% know how I am feeling on a day to day basis. Perhaps some may have had a similar suffering experience, but their way of dealing and coping with it will differ to mine.
I can never truly understand someone else’s pain. When my friend’s lost their son, who was also my friend, to suicide a number of years ago, I had no idea what was truly going on in their world. When my own brother died at the age of 37 I had no idea what my mum went through, as she suffered in her own world. Yes, I suffered and hurt when my friend committed suicide and when my brother died but not to the extent and depth of their parents.
We can watch on as people suffer who have lost loved ones in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza at war, but we cannot possibly know what’s going on in their minds and hearts. We look at their tears and strained faces but never truly know.
Suffering is a lonely place, walking in your own world where no other person is able to fully enter. Only God can truly enter that world and He can seem very absent at times. Psalm 10:1
No-one else knew my son like I knew him before the accident. Only Lindsay, my wife and his mother gets close, she knew and loved him on the same level but differently. It’s this knowing that makes the difference. Some of you may remember Nathanael, our son before the tragic accident in which he suffered a life changing traumatic brain injury, but you didn’t know him and love him like I did, like we did. There are so many things that I could share about him that I miss so much, that it hurts me everyday.
If something tragic happened to one of your children, I could never know the depth of pain and suffering that you would experience, how could I possibly be able to?
We often look at the events of Jesus’s death and how He felt forsaken by the Father and so we should. But scripture is seemingly quiet about how the Father must have felt as His Son was stricken, how He was slaughtered and eventually died. None of us will truly know what both the Father and the Son went through on the day that changed the course of world history.
Does any of this excuse us from reaching out to those around us who are suffering terribly? The truth is we can somehow cross over into someone else’s world even if for a moment without saying a word. In the Bible, Job’s friend started off well as they tried to enter into his world of suffering.
“And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” Job 2:13
Those who know the story will know that Job’s friends’ initial good intentions didn’t last long.They began to go too far without knowing what it was like in Job’s world of suffering.
Our suffering remains intense, it hasn’t gone away. Time passes and others have their own lives to lead in their own busy worlds. But let us ALL, somehow, with God’s help, step into the world of those who suffer.
The writer to the Hebrews exhorted his readers to put themselves in the shoes of others, if that is possible.
“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” Hebrews 13:3
World’s apart we may be, but, we can and should allow our worlds to cross from time to time. Although we will never truly know another’s pain…
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Notice the word ‘sacrifice’. It will cost to enter someone’s world when they’re suffering. But God is pleased when we do so. We may not know the severity of someone’s broken heart but we can share, we can listen, we can do good.
As we have moved house recently we have been incredibly blessed by others who have helped us lay flooring, helped in moving our belongings, helped in practical ways. A group of ladies in the church have provided meals for us especially as we’ve been unwell during the move. These things have been a massive help and support in the midst of pain and suffering and the stress of transitioning into a new home.
They have selflessly left their own busy worlds to enter into ours for a time to share, encourage, give and bless.
In the coming days look for ways to make a difference to someone else’s world. Not to understand, because that won’t fully be possible, but to help in whatever way you can.
Prayer - Father, Help us to recognise that we all live in different worlds. But with that recognition, help us to enter in and be the blessing that we need to be. Amen
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