Friendship in the Midst of Suffering

Have you ever been in a situation where a friend was suffering in the midst of a trial?

Have you been caught in the feeling of wanting to help but not knowing what to do?

Just Show Up!

That is what friendship looks like in the midst of suffering.

Thankfully in our December 2015 issue of Cherished Magazine we got to interview Jill Lynn Buteyn, Co-author of Just Show Up: the Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together.

The interview talks about while your heart might be in the right place, it is not unusual to feel uncomfortable or insecure when you’re around loved ones who are in the midst of a trial.

The temptation to back away can be strong; after all, couldn’t they use some space?

You don’t want to be a burden.

Is that ever the right choice though?

Is there something both of you can gain from friendship in the midst of suffering?

I ask who is God asking us to reach out to and to “Just Show Up” for?

I love this quote: “If God asks us to do something, then He’s also going to show up to carry us through it.  And when we walk in community with one another, we will be kept.” (from the book justshowup)

This is what to do when you don’t know what to do for a someone going through something and you just don’t know what to do.  You just show up.

Thankfully in our interview with Jill, she further guides us by  answering questions like:

“Why is presence so important during suffering?”

“Could you offer some advice for others on how to move past moments of awkwardness?”

“When offering help to someone, why is it important to be very specific about how you would like to help them?”

“What do you think holds people back from pursuing deep connections with others even during the good times?”

Get your digital copy of Cherished Magazine today or pick up Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn’s book Just Show Up: the Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together.

If you have someone going through something and God is whispering to you to help.  You can do it lovely lady.  Just show up.

I love sharing at these wonderful blogs.