After 5 days of jet lag —
magnified by the uncertainty of more intense transitions ahead —
I’m deeply grateful for friends like these. 🤍
I’m grateful for friends who choose to sit with pain
rather than bypass it with spiritual solutions.
“Why don’t you just…”
“Have you tried…”
“Maybe if you pray…”
These are all well-meaning.
But presence and the willingness to sit uncomfortably to witness pain heals in a different way.
Nothing cuts more deeply than spiritual bypassing.
I’m learning that introducing someone to more prayer, more worship, or more Bible study while they’re in pain can sometimes add to the burden — not relieve it.
What helps most isn’t fixing.
It’s listening.
Holding a hand.
Choosing to stay.
Choosing to say without saying, “Our friendship is strong enough for me to witness your pain with discomfort and i will not wish it away with advice or instruction.”
If you have a friend like that, I hope you’ll let them know today how much you cherish them.
💛