Suffering in Silence

"Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence." Psalm 94:17 

Guzik writes, " This highlights that without God's intervention, the psalmist would have been overwhelmed and silenced by his circumstances."

A friend I've known for over 30 years revealed a heart-breaking secret to me the other day. 

You could have knocked me over with a feather as I listened to her hurt and what she has been dealing with for all of these years.

As I sat there and listened to her bare her heart to me, I couldn't help asking myself, "How did I not know this? How could I have missed the signs?  Have I turned a blind eye; not recognizing a friend who is hurting? Have my ears grown deaf to the silent cries of those who cannot speak for themselves? Have I become so busy that I forget to stop and sincerely ask how someone is doing?"

Suffering in silence brings a person to the point of not having the ability to speak out for help.

How does that happen when we are told to bear one another's burdens? (Galatians 6:2)

Is it pride? Fear of being judged by others? Fear of being exposed? Embarrassed?

Perhaps it's all of those things, but there is another side to suffering in silence; it's reaching out for help and not receiving it.

Her pleas for help fell on deaf ears.

As I held the hand of my friend, I assured her that I was listening and that I would help her, and even now, steps are being made to do so.

But as my friend waited all of this time for the help she needed, she is such a blessed example of our Lord Jesus Christ.  She is a faithful sister in Christ who has the Joy of the Lord in her life. Her testimony is and always has been a reflection of her Lord.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Our infirmities become the black velvet on which the diamond of God's love glitters all the more brightly."

My friend glitter's God's love...

    In my infirmities, I want to glitter too...

        But that's just me!