From the Rector…
People often ask me why suffering exists. The truth is, I cannot fully answer that question—certainly not in the way we wish for when pain is fresh. The church offers a theology of suffering called Theophany, but I often find it unsatisfying. No matter how hard we try to explain suffering from an intellectual perspective, our answers always fall short. Suffering is not simply a topic to be studied; it is something to be felt, shared, and honored with empathy and compassion. Most importantly, suffering is something to be held as sacred.
Too often, we try to move past suffering quickly, offering words that minimize another’s pain—“It’ll be alright, you’ll see,” or, “It can’t be that bad.” Even well-meaning phrases like, “Everything happens for a reason,” or, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle,” can unintentionally silence the person who suffers. In trying to comfort, we risk diminishing their experience and taking away their voice.
When we instead recognize the sacredness of suffering, our calling is to hold it tenderly. We do this most faithfully through prayer. Prayer places suffering in God’s hands—not to dismiss it, but to honor it. Prayer restores dignity to the one who suffers, gives agency to their story, and invites us to see suffering not only as hardship but also as a place where God’s presence may be revealed.
Theologian Sam Wells names three ways of praying through suffering: Resurrection, Incarnation, and Transfiguration prayers.
- Resurrection prayers ask for miracles—healing, relief, or deliverance. These prayers connect us to the power of Christ’s resurrection. They are bold, beautiful, and filled with hope. At the same time, if the miracle does not come, they can leave us feeling disappointed or doubting.
- Incarnational prayers are prayers of presence. Just as Jesus came to dwell among us, these prayers affirm that the one who suffers is not alone. They remind us of the power of presence, of simply standing with one another before God in times of need. These prayers strengthen us, though they sometimes leave us wishing we could do more.
- Transfiguration prayers lift suffering into God’s glory. These prayers do not ask for suffering, but they ask that in the midst of suffering, God would be revealed. They echo the moment when Jesus shone in glory before Peter, James, and John on the mountaintop. Transfiguration prayers help us see suffering not as an end, but as a place where God can transform pain into deeper love, deeper faith, and deeper hope.
The next time you walk alongside someone who suffers, let prayer be your gift to them. Pray Resurrection prayers, asking boldly for healing and relief. Pray Incarnational prayers, that they may feel surrounded and never alone. And most especially, pray Transfiguration prayers, that even in the midst of suffering, they may glimpse the glory of God.
The Good News of this practice of prayer in the face of suffering is that you bring hope to others while also feeling strengthened when experiencing your own hardships. Rather than trying to answer the age-old question, “Why does suffering exist?” (that really has no good answers), pray and be present to the sufferings of this world trusting that God is too.
Light and Life,
Candice Frazer+