Enter into suffering

"Pray without ceasing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" - Colossians 1:24

"...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" - Philippians 3:10

When I watch movies, I like them to be an escape from the world around me - I like them to be fun, lighthearted, a distraction from the pain and wickedness I see or hear about every day. A lot of the books I read are the same way. It is too much of a burden for me to always have my mind involved in those things. Yes, they are problems, yes, there might be something I could do about it, yes, I could pray for these people - but no, no, no, it hurts too much, it is too much to carry, I am too weak

But I am not any weaker than a lot of people who are directly suffering evil things. At the very least I am not weaker than the children who are abused or who watch their siblings being abused and are powerless to do anything about it. Can I set aside my life of comfort on their behalf? Can I bear at least some small grain of their suffering, that they might have a moment of happiness and peace? Can I enter into their sorrow, that through me they might come to joy and rest? That is what Jesus did for me; can I do the same for my brothers and sisters, my fellow sojourners through this life? If I am too timid or ignorant or insecure to know how to directly enter their lives and avert an evil, let me not be too weak or lazy or selfish to pray on their behalf. If I may never be a mighty warrior for the gospel on the front lines of the kingdom, doing great things like preaching the word, changing hearts, relieving oppression, and righting wrongs, Lord, at least help me to be a humble servant whose struggles are unseen, who intercedes for those in need at the foot of Your throne. Please let me seek their good rather than my glory - the hidden but unceasing vigil of the spirit rather than the bold and dramatic action that wins acclaim and admiration.