Then they sat seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great. Job 2:13
Do you know what I like least about facing my challenges?
Feeling I am not heard.
Sometimes, when I go just to talk to others I am barraged by words that discourage me.
"You know, you really should try ....." (Fill in the blank.)
"Well, if I were you I would ...."
"If you really wanted to you could ...."
I call those conversation stoppers. Yes, the people may feel they are well meaning, but sometimes I don't want answers or solutions. I just want to be heard. I want my feelings to be accepted for what they are.
Sometimes, I just want someone to sit next to me and listen. No judgments, no solutions, no chastising me for the way I feel.
Last night I helped create a family situation that went bad quickly. I wanted someone to listen. I felt guilty. I had gotten overly angry and dealt with an issue at the wrong time.
I needed to talk to someone. Yet, most everyone I talked to told me I "shouldn't" feel bad.
Problem is I did.
And I still do.
I know that taking our problems to God is something we need to do. God is the one who will listen. I guess I'd just like to challenge people to stop trying to fix others and simply listen to what is being said.
When we are in pain - we need to be heard.
When we are scared - we need to be heard.
When we are sad - we need to be heard.
Often, that is the beginning of healing.
Dealing with a chronic illness can breed many feelings that are difficult to understand - and difficult to express. And feelings that need to be heard.
Father God, I pray for each reader that runs into "coulda, woulda, shoulda" will be able to understand the intent of others to try to help. And I pray that we, ourselves, would be sensitive to the needs of others and truly listen to them as we would like to be listened to. Amen and amen.