The Fellowship of Suffering

This poem was written for a friend who was facing a time of trial.

No fellowship is quite as sweet
Than that in time of trial;
No tie can bind like one of grief
While walking sorrow's mile.

Souls are betrothed when thrust into
The furnace of affliction,
And hearts are knit that suffer through
A time of grief's constriction.

No blows may weld a stronger bond
Than buffets from the storm,
And those that seem to overwhelm
Our fragile human form.

In weariness of soul and mind-
And with a flesh made weak-
Your character has voiced the thoughts
That tongue could never speak.

Through common burdens we have borne,
Our unsaid thoughts are spoken;
And though our hearts now ache and grieve,
We see that yours is broken.

For when, with you, we face the fire
Or come beneath the sword-
We find out what it truly means
To know our gracious Lord.

Your faith, unshaken, is a source
Of strength to all you lead.
Our battles are but skirmishes,
While yours are wars indeed.

A deeper form of love has grown
While suffering through the years;
From seeds of sorrow, grief, and pain
Oft fertilized with tears.

Though many victories were won
While traveling in the way,
The fellowship of suffering 
Must be our strength this day.

These earthly trials that we must face
Are fellowships with God.
A time when we transcend the painful,
Mortal paths we trod.

That we may know him and his power,
He often chooses pain
To draw us closer to His side
That His might we should gain.