The Crisis in Turkey and Syria
Three Real Ways to Respond to Suffering
When we see or hear of tragedy, especially like what has recently happened in Turkey and Syria, it’s easy to feel paralyzed in our desire to help. As we look for tangible ways to ease the suffering by sending money, blankets, clothes, and other needs, we should seek out credible ministries that are offering aid and give.
Our relationship with Jesus offers three real ways to respond as we grieve for these traumatized believers: remember, realize, and recalibrate.
Remember that Jesus is suffering with them. Jesus’ death on the cross has changed everything, including suffering. Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us that Jesus is the High Priest who sympathizes with every weakness. Jesus knows what it feels like to be us.
I know from suffering with leukemia for 23 years and from what I’ve seen in 40 years of pastoral ministry that what the Psalmist says is true, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted He rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18
“God have mercy on us, Christ have mercy,” said Gokhan Talas, founder of the evangelical Miras Publishing Ministry in Istanbul. “This is our only spiritual reflection right now.” We can remember, and pray this prayer with Mr. Talas.
Realize that our experience of eternal life as Americans is far easier than most in the world now and throughout history. The churches and believers at ground zero have been living under the threat of persecution and martyrdom for years. They have “suffering faith muscles” that we western believers have never had to use. Pray for their protection, boldness, and wisdom as they become the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are traumatized. They will need to follow the most radical command from Jesus —“love your enemies.”
Recalibrate and manage expectations in this broken world. Jesus encountered suffering and death “with His eyes wide open” as Henri Nouwen puts it. (Letters to Marc, p.29) When the Sons of Thunder asked to be great in His kingdom, He told them plainly that they should be willing to “drink of the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink” (Mark 10:38, NLT). Any believer who wants to follow Christ as an obedient disciple must accept the prospect of suffering and even death.
I’ll never forget the words of my oncologist when I was near death and at Norris Cancer Center. Looking around me, I asked her, “How do you take it? What’s the hardest part of your job?” She didn’t hesitate, “Most westerners do not think they have to suffer and die.” I thought to myself, “That’s almost right out of the mouth of Jesus!”
As thunder follows lightning, suffering follows our expectations as Jesus’ disciples. No one gets out of this broken world without it. I’d so much rather my suffering and death glorify the One who washed me from my sin with His own blood than join those who, in vain, are doing everything they can to avoid it.
There’s not a day that I don’t beg Jesus for healing. There’s also not a day that I don’t praise Him for all that He did in my heart through suffering because He knew what He was going to do with my leukemia as I trusted Him. I pray these words will help you, as your heart breaks for those who are suffering.