Lazarus for When You’re Sick
Caralynn Hampson
Day 1 of 5
“Lord, the one whom you love is ill.”
Direct and to the point, Mary and Martha conveyed the tragedy that they were currently experiencing. I admire how simple the message was. Sharing bad news is something that I am still learning to do. When I was in the ER and had just been informed that I had a tumor in my abdomen, I really messed up when giving my dad the bad news. My mom was with me and called him on video chat, and when he answered, I blurted out that I might have cancer before he had been informed that a mass was visible on the CT scan.
Before I told my friends about my tumor, I asked a pastor for advice on how to give bad news. And her advice was to be direct and honest and then to ask for what kind of support I need and want. Mary and Martha kind of skipped that last step, but I think that at the very least they were asking for community and for Jesus to be with them.
I wish I could write a devotional about how everything works out. I can’t write about how everything is going to be okay because I don’t know that.
As I write this, I am being treated for cancer, so the most reassuring thing I can say is that you are not alone. You are not alone if you question who God is or wonder why bad things happen—those questions have existed for a while. Serious illness is devastating, and whether you are sick or you are a caretaker or a friend—you are not alone.
Reflect:
What bad news have you heard? What bad news have you had to tell?
Caralynn Hampson (she/her)
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