"Wow bro. You must be in a lot of pain."
I remember those being the most encouraging words my ears had heard in a long time. I was talking to a friend of mine who had experienced the same thing I was going through years before. For the first time, I had someone who could understand my pain. For the first time, I had someone who could give my some justification to how hard it was. For the first time, I had someone who could tell me it sucks, but there was hope.
It was at the moment I realized that such a deep resounding need in the human life is the aspect of feeling known and understood. The power behind the "I've been there" was incredible. I instantly felt a connection, attentive to each of his words more so than anyone I had talked to previously.
Though suffering may never be "fixed", it has the potential to not be wasted. Suffering, in a hard way to explain, can be an unbelievable blessing. It provides you that seemingly instant credibility to those who are also suffering. Oh the opportunities that brings that otherwise would have never been present! It has incredible purpose.
Sufferers can often have the most profound ministries.
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