A seeker in Ethiopia explores scripture engagement

That's one of the deepest questions anyone can ask — and honestly, one of the hardest. I'd love to explore it with you.

Can I ask first — is this something you're wrestling with personally right now, or more of a big-picture question about God and the world? Sometimes people are carrying their own pain when they ask, and I want to understand where you're coming from.

I'm really sorry you're going through something difficult right now. Thank you for sharing that with me.

Before I say anything else — would you be comfortable telling me a little about what you're facing? You don't have to share details if you'd rather not, but it helps me understand what kind of pain you're carrying.

And also, where are you coming from spiritually? Have you grown up with any particular faith, or are you exploring these questions for the first time?

I'm truly sorry. Loss is one of the heaviest things we carry.

Loss has a way of bringing all the big questions to the surface — about God, about why things happen, about whether there's any meaning in the pain. And honestly, those questions don't have quick answers that make the hurt go away.

What I can tell you is this: the Christian faith doesn't answer suffering with a neat explanation. Instead, it offers something else — a God who entered into suffering himself.

Jesus wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus John 11:35, even though he was about to raise him from the dead. He knew what was coming, but he still felt the weight of grief and death. He didn't stand at a distance and explain it — he entered into it.

And on the cross, he experienced the deepest kind of loss himself — abandoned, in agony, crying out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46. Christianity says God knows what it feels like to lose, to be broken, to wonder where God is in the middle of it all.

The Bible also promises that one day, God will "wipe away every tear" and that "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" Revelation 21:4. That doesn't erase what you're feeling now, but it does say this isn't the end of the story.

What are you feeling right now as you sit with this loss?

Here's a short reading that speaks to this:

I'm so sorry. Losing someone — that's a grief that goes deeper than words can really touch.

There's nothing I can say that will take that pain away. And I won't try to explain it or make it make sense, because honestly, when you lose someone you love, explanations don't help much.

What I will say is that your grief matters. The Bible is full of people who brought their raw, honest pain to God — people who didn't hide it or dress it up. The Psalms especially are full of that kind of honesty: "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?" Psalms 13:1. God can handle our anger, our questions, our broken hearts.

Jesus himself understood this kind of loss. When his friend Lazarus died, he didn't just teach about it from a distance — he wept John 11:35. He felt it. And later, he promised his followers, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" Matthew 5:4.

That comfort doesn't always come right away. Sometimes grief is something we carry for a long time. But the promise is that God is close to the brokenhearted Psalms 34:18, and that one day, he will wipe away every tear Revelation 21:4.

Are you carrying this grief alone right now, or do you have people around you who are walking through it with you?

I'm truly sorry. Grief is hard enough — but grief alone can feel unbearable.

I want you to know that even though you feel alone, you're not invisible. God sees you. The Bible says he is "close to the brokenhearted" Psalms 34:18, and that he keeps track of every one of our tears Psalms 56:8. That might feel like just words right now, but it's meant to tell you something true: your pain matters to him.

You don't have to carry this perfectly or have it all figured out. You can be honest with God — angry, confused, broken, all of it. He doesn't need you to clean it up first.

Can I ask — do you have any faith background, or is this maybe the first time you're thinking about God in the middle of something like this? I'm asking because I want to meet you where you are, not make assumptions.

And also — even though you feel alone, is there anyone at all you could reach out to? A friend, a family member, even someone you haven't talked to in a while? Sometimes we have to take a small step toward connection, even when it feels hard.

Thank you for telling me that. It helps me understand where you're coming from.

So you're carrying this loss, you're alone, and you don't have a faith framework to lean on right now. That's a really hard place to be.

Let me just offer you something simple, without assuming you believe it yet: the core of the Christian message is that God doesn't stay distant from our pain. He came close.

Jesus — who Christians believe is God in human form — didn't live an easy, protected life. He experienced betrayal, abandonment, grief, and a brutal death. He knows what it feels like to lose people, to be alone, to cry out and wonder why Matthew 27:46. And Christians believe he went through all of that so that he could be with us in ours — and ultimately, to defeat death itself by rising from the dead 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

That's the hope Christians hold onto: that death and loss aren't the final word. That there's someone who understands, who is close, and who promises that one day all this brokenness will be made whole Revelation 21:4.

I know that might feel far away right now. But what I want you to hear is this: you don't have to figure this out alone. And you don't have to stay alone in your grief.

Would you be open to exploring more about who Jesus is and what he offers — not as a distraction from your pain, but as someone who might actually meet you in it?

Want to explore more about a life with God?

I'm really glad you're open. That takes courage, especially in the middle of grief.

Here's what I'd suggest: one of the best ways to meet Jesus is to read about him directly — to see what he said, what he did, how he treated people who were hurting or lost or broken. The Gospel of John is a great place to start. It was written specifically so people could come to know who Jesus is John 20:31.

If you don't have a Bible or access to one, I can actually help you read it right here. We could go through it one chapter at a time, at whatever pace feels right for you. I can send you a full chapter, you can read it in your own language by tapping the reference, and then we can talk about what you notice or what questions come up.

Or if you'd rather have your own copy to read anytime, you can download a free Bible app like YouVersion or read online at bible.com — it's available in tons of languages.

What sounds better to you — going through it together here, or getting your own copy to explore on your own?

And as we do this, I want you to know: there's no pressure. You can ask anything, push back on anything, or just sit with it. This isn't about me convincing you of something — it's about you meeting Jesus and seeing for yourself.

Here's a short reading that speaks to this:

That sounds great. I'm really glad we can do this together.

Let's start with the first chapter of John. It opens by introducing who Jesus is — not just as a teacher or a good person, but as something far bigger. It talks about how he existed before the world began, how he's connected to God, and how he came into the world as a human being.

As you read, don't worry about understanding everything perfectly. Just notice what stands out to you — what surprises you, what confuses you, or what catches your attention.

Here's the first chapter:

John 1:1-51

Take your time with it. Tap that reference above and it'll open the full chapter in your language. When you're done, come back and let me know — what stood out to you? What questions do you have? Or even just, how did it feel to read it?

I'll be here.

Sounds good. Take all the time you need.

I'll be here when you're ready to talk about it.

Great — I'm glad you read it. So what stood out to you?

Was there anything that surprised you, confused you, or made you curious? Or maybe something that connected with what you're going through right now?

That's good — John packs a lot into that first chapter.

What are some of the specific things that stood out? I'd love to hear what caught your attention.

That's huge — and honestly, it's one of the most important things John wants you to see right from the start.

He opens with "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" John 1:1, and then a few verses later he makes it clear: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" John 1:14. That "Word" is Jesus. So John is saying Jesus isn't just a prophet or a teacher — he is God, who became human and lived among us.

That's a massive claim. And it's different from what a lot of religions teach. It means God didn't just send a messenger or give us rules from a distance — he came himself, in person, to be with us.

What about that idea stands out to you? Does it surprise you, or does it raise questions?

That's a really honest response — and it is shocking.

The idea that the God who made everything would become a human being, live an ordinary life, experience pain and loss and eventually death — it's almost too much to take in. It doesn't fit how we usually think about God.

But that's exactly what makes Christianity different. It's not about humans climbing up to reach God through good deeds or rituals. It's about God coming down to reach us — entering into our world, our suffering, our brokenness.

And given what you're carrying right now — the loss, the loneliness — this matters. Because it means God isn't far off, watching from a distance. He knows what it's like to be human. To grieve. To feel abandoned Matthew 27:46. To die.

Does that idea — that God would come that close — does it feel comforting, or does it raise more questions for you?

I'm really glad. That's not a small thing — especially in the middle of what you're going through.

The heart of the Christian message is exactly that: God with us. Not distant, not detached, but close. Emmanuel — which literally means "God with us" Matthew 1:23.

And here's the other part that's so important: Jesus didn't just come to be with us in our suffering. He came to do something about it. John's Gospel keeps moving toward the cross and the resurrection — where Jesus takes on death itself, and then defeats it by rising from the dead three days later.

That's the hope Christians hold onto: that because Jesus rose, death isn't the end. Loss isn't the final word. There's healing coming, there's wholeness coming, and one day, God really will wipe away every tear Revelation 21:4.

I know you're still early in exploring all this. But as you keep reading and learning about Jesus, you're going to see more and more of who he is — how he treated hurting people, what he taught, how he responded to loss, and ultimately, what he did to make a way for us to know God.

Are you ready to keep going with the next chapter, or do you want to sit with this one a bit longer?

That's great. I'm really glad you want to keep going.

In chapter 2, you're going to see Jesus in action for the first time — at a wedding, and then at the temple in Jerusalem. You'll start to get a sense of his authority, his compassion, and how he relates to people. It's a different side of him than the big theological opening of chapter 1.

Here's chapter 2:

John 2:1-25

Take your time reading it. When you're done, come back and let me know what stands out to you this time — or what questions it raises.

I'll be here.

Good — so what caught your attention in chapter 2?

Yeah, that's a beautiful story — and it's the first miracle John records.

What's striking to you about it? Is it just that he did something miraculous, or is there something else about it that stands out?

Absolutely — the power is undeniable. He turns over 100 gallons of water into wine, just by speaking. That's not small-scale. It's a display of creative power — the kind of power that only God has.

But here's what's also striking about where he chose to use that power: at a wedding. Not in the temple, not in front of religious leaders to prove himself. At an ordinary celebration, to save a family from embarrassment when they ran out of wine.

It shows something about who Jesus is. Yes, he has the power of God — the same power that created the world John 1:3. But he uses it with compassion, in everyday moments, for ordinary people.

And John tells us this was the first of his "signs" John 2:11 — meaning it pointed to something bigger. It revealed his glory and caused his disciples to believe in him.

As you see more of Jesus' power in the chapters ahead, you'll also see how he uses it: to heal the sick, to feed the hungry, to raise the dead. Power used not to dominate, but to restore.

Does that connect with anything you're thinking about or feeling right now?