Follower:
Lord, sometimes I bridle my tongue
when I want to ask You,
"Why me?"
I swallow every question
until it becomes a stone
resting behind my ribs.
Sometimes I break down,
then shut down,
because I have only had myself
to pick myself up
when the days became too hard.
I learned how to carry my own weight
before I learned
that I was allowed to lay it down.
Christ:
My child,
I heard the questions
you never let leave your mouth.
I saw every tear
you wiped away in secret.
I saw you rebuild yourself
with hands that were already shaking.
You thought you were alone
because no one stood beside you.
But I was there—
beneath you when you fell,
beside you when you crawled,
within you when you found
the strength to rise again.
Follower:
Lord, have You ever heard of therapy?
When I tried it,
the therapist looked me in the face
and asked,
"How are you still going on?"
My mind screamed
with every answer
I had buried.
But my response was short:
"With Christ."
Christ:
And I was there
in the room with you.
Not offended
by your need for help.
Not threatened
by the questions you asked.
Not distant
from the healing you were seeking.
I can work through prayer.
I can work through people.
I can work through medicine,
conversation, silence,
and the courage it takes
to tell the truth.
You do not betray your faith
by admitting that you are hurting.
Follower:
But sometimes I feel weak
when I need You this much.
Sometimes I wonder
if my faith is failing
because I am still afraid.
Christ:
Your fear does not disqualify you.
Your tears do not make you faithless.
Your exhaustion does not make you less loved.
Faith is not pretending
that the storm is quiet.
Faith is whispering My name
while the thunder is still speaking.
Follower:
Then why did I have to survive
so many nights
without knowing You were near?
Christ:
You did not survive those nights alone.
I was in every breath
you thought would be your last.
I was in every morning
you were not sure you would reach.
I was in the part of you
that kept choosing life
even when living felt unbearable.
You called it
"picking yourself up."
I called it
grace carrying you
when you could not carry yourself.
Follower:
So when I ask,
"Why me?"
will You answer?
Christ:
I may not always give you
the reason you seek.
But I will give you
My presence.
I will meet you
in the question,
in the therapy room,
in the breakdown,
in the silence after the breakdown.
And when your voice is too tired
to say anything else,
I will understand
the prayer inside your breathing.
Follower:
Then let me say it plainly:
I am tired.
I am hurting.
I am afraid.
I do not know
how much longer I can be strong.
Christ:
Then stop trying
to be strong by yourself.
Give Me the burden.
Give Me the anger.
Give Me the questions
you have been afraid to ask.
You are not required
to carry what I have asked you
to surrender.
Follower:
And if I fall again?
Christ:
I will still be there.
Follower:
And if I need help again?
Christ:
Reach for it.
Follower:
And if all I can say is—
"With Christ"?
Christ:
Then say it.
And when you cannot say even that,
I will say it for you.
