how to offer support in a time of crisis or suffering
By Amber Johansen
Helping a loved one in crisis can be difficult, and finding the right words may cause us to unintentionally distance ourselves emotionally or say the wrong thing. With that in mind, I’m offering a few suggestions for responding in a supportive and helpful way. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines and may not apply to every situation. However, they can help you express empathy, consideration, and encouragement in a healthy, constructive way.
Defining a Crisis
A crisis is a state of instability or danger that leads to a significant change or emotional upheaval. It is usually triggered by unforeseen events like health issues, accidents, death, or natural disasters, and is marked by fear, instability, and change.
Understanding Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share someone else's feelings by imagining yourself in their situation. When we empathize, we offer meaningful support. Without empathy, we risk being less considerate or, worse, adding to the pain the person is already feeling.
How to Enter Someone's Experience
A good example of empathy can be seen in the story of Job from the Old Testament. Job loses everything—his children, property, possessions, and health. His friends come to comfort him:
"Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place; for they had made an appointment together to come sympathize with him and to comfort him. When they looked from a distance and did not recognize him because of his disfigurement, they raised their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe in grief and threw dust over their heads in sorrow. So they sat down on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great." —Job 11:13
From this, we can learn three key things about empathy:
They Go to Him: Love is an action. Job’s friends showed their love by being physically present. While this isn't always possible, we can still "be there" through phone calls, texts, or emails.
They Enter His Grief and Sorrow: Job's friends acknowledged both his physical pain and his emotional suffering. Today, we can do this by offering a simple hug or saying, "I’m so sorry this has happened" or "My heart is breaking for you."
They Sit With Him in Silence: Job’s friends didn’t try to offer advice or look on the bright side. Instead, they sat with him, understanding that there were no words that could help at that moment. We can offer similar support by being present, listening, and checking in, showing patience, love, and compassion.
As the story of Job unfolds, his friends begin questioning the circumstances of his suffering and become unsupportive, critical, and argumentative. In fact, Job refers to them as "miserable comforter". With this in mind, let's talk about how to encourage and support others in constructive ways.
How to Offer Encouragement and Support Constructively
Recognize Your Limits Concerning Negative Emotions: If you struggle with processing negative emotions, it’s okay to communicate this to your friend without making it about you. You can say, “I care deeply about you, and I’m really sorry for what you’re going through. I sometimes struggle with processing tough emotions, but I want to be here for you in any way I can.”
Maintain Healthy Boundaries: It’s important not to own their experience. While it might feel natural to offer solutions or observations, be sure to ask for permission: “May I offer a suggestion?” or “Can I share an observation?” If the answer is no, respect it.
Avoid Toxic Positivity: Comments like “It could be worse” or “Everything happens for a reason” can be incredibly harmful. Also, avoid sharing personal stories that shift the focus away from their pain. The goal is to acknowledge their feelings, not dismiss or minimize them.
Remain Patient: In long-term suffering, we may experience compassion fatigue. It’s important to be self-aware, set boundaries, and seek support when needed to avoid burnout. A trusted friend or counselor can help you navigate these emotions.
Be an Encouragement: During a crisis, people often feel helpless and hopeless. While it’s important to sit with them in their suffering, you also need to be aware if they become stuck in self-pity. Offer encouragement by saying, “I can imagine you’re feeling overwhelmed. How can I support you?” This keeps the conversation empathetic while gently offering a path forward.
In closing, my purpose in writing this is to encourage you (and myself) to push through the uncomfortable self-doubt that comes with supporting others in their suffering and to offer a few suggestions on how to navigate these difficult experiences. The bottom line is to extend love by offering words of encouragement, compassion, hope.
This is an excerpt of a text. It was sent to someone who is fighting cancer by one of her closest friends. It's a wonderful example of speaking life and hope into a scary and exhausting circumstances:
I am in awe of your strength and ability to stay focused on [God] sustaining you through these beyond difficult stretches of your journey. You are truly an amazing warrior...I see [God's] strength being made perfect in your weakness...I know you are feeling weary, but I see strength. Know that I am praying for your spirit as much as your physical needs.
