Accompanying the Sick
Living in a fallen world, we will inevitably encounter illness and suffering, whether in our own lives or in the lives of those around us. When we come alongside the sick, we are invited into a deeper maturity in God. Such encounters confront us with reality and, if we allow them to, shape our hearts.
At the very least, illness reminds us that the world is broken. We may know this truth intellectually, yet we often try to escape it by distracting ourselves with comfort, pleasure, or constant activity. History offers a vivid illustration in the Rococo era, which emphasized ornamentation, beauty, and enjoyment. Frederick the Great’s palace at Potsdam, named Sanssouci (“without worry”), embodied this spirit. Decorating life with elegance and pretending to live without concern can become a way of avoiding the painful reality of a world marked by suffering.
Encountering the sick interrupts this illusion. It calls us to stop. In the Gospel of Luke, when a blind man cries out to Jesus for mercy, Jesus stopped (Luke 18:40). In a culture that prizes productivity and achievement, stopping can feel costly, even threatening. Yet it is precisely in stopping that compassion is awakened. We are not called to pity others from a distance, but to truly encounter them, to allow their suffering to move our hearts.
In a broken world, it is sadly possible for people to take pleasure in the misfortune of others, using it as an outlet for judgment, anger, or resentment. Accompanying the sick forms us differently. It teaches us to love sincerely and to long for the healing and restoration of our neighbors. We begin to see others not as instruments for our own purposes, but as persons who call us to self-denial, patience, and sacrifice.
Ultimately, walking with the sick reminds us of our responsibility while we are still blessed with health. Our time and strength are gifts meant to be used in service of others. A day will come when we ourselves will no longer be able to serve as we once did, and we will need to receive help with humility and gratitude. Learning to accompany the sick now prepares us for that day, teaching us compassion, dependence on God, and a deeper love for one another.