Suffering is not a competition, and neither is your response.

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Everyone has an opinion on the crises throughout our world. Here’s my 2 cents. Suffering is not a competition. It’s not an “us vs. them” or a “me vs. you” scenario. Pain is pain. Period. Here’s what I know- we all face pain. Our circumstances are different but we feel the same way inside. And if we allow it, pain changes our perspective. Pain has the ability to give us eyes to see and a heart that beats with passion and purpose.  I don’t have to experience your exact circumstances to feel motivated to do something to help you.

But here’s the kicker—I can’t just feel the motivation and let it fizzle away. I must choose to embrace the compassion in my heart and do something for you. From experience, when I let the compassion fizzle, it dulls my sensitivity. The more often I’m moved but do nothing, the less compassion I will feel in the future.

You can say that the refugee crisis is a religious thing, and you can quote verses to back yourself up—either for or against. I’ve seen it go both ways. But I’m telling you that it’s not a religious thing. It’s a cry from the depths of humanity to live and breathe. And that’s a hard thing to fully understand from the comfort of an American lifestyle. But I can’t close my eyes to their struggle and I can’t silence my ears to their cry.

No, America isn’t perfect. Yes, there are many other groups of people who need our help. But it’s not a competition. If you feel compassion for veterans, then help them! If you feel mercy for the homeless, then help them! If you feel tenderness towards at-risk youth, then help them! And if you are concerned about the refugees, then help them!

But don’t feel compassion and let it fizzle. If we decide not to help the refugees it means that fear has won—the terrorists have won, and they have terrorized us to the point of their control.

Let love win. We’re not all called to do the same thing, but we must do something!

Published by mariemonville

Passionate follower of Christ. My heart is to encourage/comfort others with the same encouragement/comfort I've received. These posts are really for myself, but my hope, my prayer is that they'll mean something to you as well. Here's a little more about me, just in case you want to know why I think the way I do! “When all other lights go out, He still shines!” This became the anthem to Marie's life when on October 2, 2006, her then husband made a decision to hold an Amish school house hostage, forever changing life as she knew it. This is Marie’s testimony, forged while moving through unthinkable circumstances, into the unfathomable love of the Father. On her darkest day, Marie simply chose to believe that HE IS. This act of faith radically propelled her into a future she could not have hoped for or imagined. Marie ministers the truth of God’s love: it is deep enough to heal any wound, strong enough to break all bondage, and it brings life to the broken and light to those in darkness. By cultivating worship in the deepest places of her heart and releasing it before His throne, Marie has found the secret to being “transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory” (2 Cor 3:18). She will inspire you to dive deep into a passionate LOVE relationship with God, which will transform your life and flow through you to impact all you encounter.

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One thought on “Suffering is not a competition, and neither is your response.”

  1. Thank you Marie for your boldness! There is always a risk involved in doing anything worthwhile. And while this may be a humanitarian issue, I do THANK GOD that when He counted the cost of redeeming me, He was willing to pay the price!

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