In Ephesians 6:13, we are told to put on the whole armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, we can stand our ground against the evil one, and after having done all, to keep on standing. Make no mistake… When a loved one is afflicted with a mental illness it can feel as though our world is being torn apart. The resultant chaos, hurt, and confusion can seem beyond our ability to endure. But God has made a way through the storm. It is called the way of suffering. From the Christian perspective, suffering is not something to be dismissed or avoided. It might, in fact, be an invitation to walk alongside Our Lord, who in his earthly pilgrimage understood suffering and was acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). Paul wrote along these lines in Philippians 3:10: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings.” If Jesus suffered, we will suffer (1 Peter 4:1). Don’t think of suffering as a betrayal. Let your trials do their work in your life, carving out a greater capacity for compassion and empathy toward others.