The Power of Silent connectedness

11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Job 2:11-13

As a person who suffers through bouts of depression, I cannot stress enough the power of silent connectedness. When I am going through the last thing I need is for someone to ask me constantly; how I am feeling or how am I doing? Depression hurts, it hurts to think, it hurts to move, and it hurts to try to shout over the negative voices in your mind screaming at me all at once. I can barely comprehend what you are saying to me - let alone provide a comprehensive answer that will fit your liking.

Sometimes I need a person who doesn’t need me to explain. I need a person who feels that my friendship is still considered valuable even if I have nothing to give and that sitting in silence together is still okay because our love for each other transcends words. Someone, who knows that their silent prayers for me are enough. Someone, who knows that their presence will be enough of a reminder for me to know that when I come out the other side, there is still someone expecting me, loving me, and willing to wait for me without being offended by the length of time it took for me to return.

Sometimes, I just need someone around me who is fluent in silence.