Suffering in Silence

There is truly nothing that is more heartbreaking than someone who is suffering alone and in silence. Not that they do not speak out to themselves when they are alone, but selftalk brings little comfort and often reinforces a harmful mindset. As we see the smiling faces that enter our church each Sunday, one has to wonder how many of those we greet are suffering on the inside while putting on a happy face?

It is as if the words found in Psalm 13:1-2 cry out the true state of their soul when it says, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”

It is quite possible that all of us have experienced times when we cried out to God and asked, “How long?” Those times when we were going through stressful trials and seasons of tribulation that seem to have no end. We would pray, but it felt as if God had turned His face away from us. We know now that is not the case, but honestly, it is hard to think otherwise when we are in the thick of a difficult season.

May we always try to speak words of encouragement whenever possible, for the Holy Spirit may be using us at that moment to speak to someone’s soul. May we always share words of hope and words of comfort when we empathize with the challenges that a brother or sister is facing. 

To our credit, we are often willing to listen to the struggles that a friend is going through, but while we listen, we need to be praying and focusing on what the Holy Spirit is leading us to say. And here is a key point. If we do not feel that we are being led to say anything specific, then do not say anything specific. It is our obligation to seek the guidance from the Holy Spirit and to respond how we are led 

None of us are meant to walk this life alone. Nor are we meant to suffer alone in silence. As Paul tells us in Galatians 6:2, we are to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” We are all called to be ministers of the Gospel and ambassadors of Christ. It is up to us to let our brothers and sisters understand that they are not alone in their struggle.

May we pray for discernment and understanding while listening to the struggles and needs of another.

May we pray that the Holy Spirit will use us to bring comfort and hope to a struggling soul.

May we pray for those who are struggling in silence, that they would find the courage to seek out a brother or sister who will listen to them and will empathize with the burden that they are carrying.

We are not meant to wear our struggles and our emotions on our sleeve, as they say. Yet, neither are we meant to be suffering alone in silence. Christianity is meant to be a community event. It is meant to be a daily experience that is shared among the brothers and sisters. We are meant to rejoice in each other’s victories and provide what support we can when struggles arise. Afterall, we are the family of God and our unity is what makes us strong.