He Will Carry it With You

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” // Job 1:21

Recently, in a small group meeting, a friend shared the inspiration she felt from the faith of a loved one experiencing immeasurable sorrow, yet bearing the weight of it with grace and trust. Her story reminded me of a friend living with chronic illness who repeatedly offers up her pain, beautifully transforming suffering into an opportunity to support others and grow closer to God.

I, on the other hand, am not so graceful in suffering. I often whine at a slight inconvenience, and rather than enter into the practice of offering it up, can fall into a pity party, asking God, Why me?—as though I should somehow be the one exempt from suffering.  

Today’s First Reading begins the story of Job, a man known not only for his suffering, but for his immeasurable faith while enduring the unthinkable. Even when crying out from the pain of losing all that he holds dear, “Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God” (Job 1:22).

Whether we like it or not, the reality of our broken world is that suffering is a part of all of our lives. And as I’ve prayed with the Book of Job and witnessed the example of others I know who suffer well, I’ve begun to recognize that much of my personal struggle to do so stems from not inviting God to enter into my pain. Instead, I have attempted to handle it all on my own while simultaneously complaining that God isn’t helping me. Admittedly, not very reasonable. Yet God is always so patient, waiting for the invitation to help carry whatever is weighing on my heart. 

And He’s waiting to accompany you in your suffering too, sister. Invite Him. Even if it seems insignificant. Even if it seems insurmountable. The weight is more bearable when you know Someone else is helping to carry the load.