Giving The Divine The Silent Treatment

"Jesus and I aren't on speaking terms right now."

I have heard those words uttered more times than I can count in the last few weeks. Young people who days or weeks before were passionately following Jesus, suddenly shunning him. Each utterance came with stories of hardship, loss and pain almost unbearable. When faced with such suffering it is usually best to shut up (something I struggle with). There are no answers you can give that will satisfy.

The truth is that the answers we have sound cliche and hollow in the midst of suffering. The truth is those answers usually do more damage than good when given and not discovered. The truth is maturity come through shadow and fire. The truth is the answers are not as important at the journey to find them.

As I have reflected on these encounters, I realized that each young person was a part of a pivitol conversation two weeks ago. During this encounter each one of them passionately encouraged a friend to not give up on Jesus inspite of his suffering. Coincidence? I doubt it.