Living water in the valley of the shadow: discipleship in grief

Lucas, a former school acquaintance of yours, is going through a period of intense grief. A few weeks ago, his younger brother passed away tragically in a car accident after a heated family argument. Lucas has isolated himself and turned to social media, where he alternates between periods of silence and posts filled with cynicism, bitterness, and anger towards God and religion. Today, he posted an Instagram story with a completely black background and the phrase: "Another day dragging myself. If there is a God, He is a sadist who likes to see us suffer. Spare me your empty prayers and verses." Lucas carries intense guilt from the last argument he had with his brother. His last memory of his brother is a violent exchange of insults, in which he shouted that he hated him minutes before the fatal collision. In an attempt to numb the pain and silence recurring thoughts, he has turned to alcohol daily until he passes out. This attempt to relieve the pain, however, ends up worsening his suffering. Lucas directs his anger and despair against religious institutions and against God Himself, making it difficult for anyone who tries to talk to him about his pain to get close to him. Just as Jesus went through Samaria and, being wearied with His journey, sat on Jacob's well (John 4:6), and began a conversation with a Samaritan woman, crossing social and religious barriers, the evangelist must approach Lucas via direct message (DM) without triumphalist answers or ready-made formulas. It is necessary to welcome his pain with attentive listening, not be diverted by debates that distance the conversation from his spiritual need, and present the Messiah, the One who does not remain distant from human suffering, but wept at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35) and offers the Living Water that sustains the soul in the valley of the shadow of death.