“Why is this happening to me?”
This question is often the first thing we think of when we are in pain or facing hard times. We ask it when we are sick, grieving, disappointed, or weighed down by our own mistakes. It is a real and timeless question.
The Scriptures do not ignore this cry. Job asked it while sitting in ashes, the Psalmist spoke it in sorrow, and even Christ Himself expressed this pain on the cross. Suffering is not a personal failure, but something all people share. As Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time for everything… a time to weep and a time to endure.”
Even so, suffering can make us feel isolated. Pain can trick us into thinking our burden is unique. But if we pay attention, we notice that everyone around us has their own hidden struggles. Some are easy to see, others are not. As Dostoevsky said, “Everyone is guilty before everyone, for everything.” This isn’t about blame, but about how we all share vulnerability.
Christian tradition does not offer simple answers, but it does offer companionship. St. Paul writes, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We may not be able to fix everything in ourselves or others, but we can be patient, accept weakness, and give comfort. These small acts are sacred ways to respond to suffering.
Peace does not mean life is free from trouble. It means choosing to stay gentle when hard times come. The Monks and Fathers taught that facing hardship with humility makes the heart purer than success ever could. When we keep calm, try to adapt instead of fighting every challenge, and show kindness to others, our suffering is not wasted. It becomes something we share, and that makes it feel lighter.
Maybe, over time, the question “Why is this happening to me?” turns into “How can I stay human right now?” The answer might not come from explanations, but from choosing to comfort others as we heal ourselves.
And for today, that is enough.
Have a good day.
Haps@aalap
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