Sometimes we do not know what to say. Those moments when a friend tells us of a terminal diagnosis – those days when we watch horrors unfold on the international scene – those times we visit someone whose ill health is not improving, has not improved for many a year, and our question “How are you doing?” is simply met with the familiar “The same.” Sometimes no words of hope spring to mind.
It can be frustrating to be without a response. Most of us, in church circles, want to be able to say something that encourages – something that brings hope. Indeed, those of us in any position of responsibility can sometimes feel a real pressure to come up with a great thought – an apt Bible verse – that is going to make a real difference. Of course, we’re humble enough to know we cannot make everything better, but surely we should be able to make some inroads, we think.
Sometimes we force ourselves to come out with a Biblical truth, an expression of hope that may be well meant but often falls flat. When despair is in the air, even the most nuanced version of “keep going, God’s got this … remember this verse” can feel trite. It can give the impression we haven’t quite grasped the enormity of the situation being faced. At worst, it can compound the pain people are experiencing. It can feel like we are trying to put a sticking plaster on a gaping wound.
