I’ve been journeying with the writings of Henri Nouwen this Lenten season and I found his thoughts on suffering very helpful. Here are a few excerpts from his writings, shared from a Christian perspective.

We are often tempted to “explain” suffering as “the will of God.”

Therefore, instead of declaring anything and everything to be the will of God, we must be willing to ask ourselves where in the midst of our pains and sufferings can we discern the loving presence of God?

Often, we see love surrounded by limitations and conditions. We tend to doubt what presents itself to us as love and are always on guard, prepared for disappointments. For this reason, we find it hard to listen with total trust and surrender.

The world in which we live today and about whose suffering we know so much seems more than ever a world from which Christ has withdrawn himself. How can I believe that in this world we are constantly being prepared to receive the Spirit?

Still, I think that this is exactly the message of hope. God has not withdrawn himself. He sent his Son to share our human condition and the Son sent us his Spirit to lead us into the intimacy of his divine life.

It is in the midst of the chaotic suffering of humanity that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Love, makes himself visible. But can we recognize his presence?

By Henri Nouwen

The famous poem and original version of "Footprints in the Sand" was written in 1939 by Mary Stevenson. This poem speaks to my heart and perhaps it will to you as well.

Photo by Abbas Tehrani on Unsplash

One night I dreamed I was walking
along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that
during the low periods of my life, when I was
suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,”You promised me
Lord, that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods
of my life there have only been
one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you.”

– Mary Stevenson

Shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel