We all will face struggles in this life. That much is for sure. This week in our series, Saturdays with C.S. Lewis, we get a glimpse of Lewis’ personal struggle with the loss of his wife, Joy Davidman, after 4 years of marriage. Even better than Lewis’s words are the words of scripture. Jesus is able to understand our weaknesses and our doubts in the middle of tragedy. While He is acquainted with the pain, He endured without sin.

Hebrews 4:15-6 says, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

C.S. Lewis helps us understand where God is in the middle of loss. He also helps us understand where we are in the middle of loss. Read this excerpt of Lewis grieving the loss of his wife:

How far have I got? Just as far, I think, as a widower of another sort who would stop, leaning on his spade, and say in answer to our inquiry, ‘Thank’ee. Mustn’t grumble. I do miss her something dreadful. But they say these things are sent to try us.’ We have come to the same point; he with his spade, and I, who am not now much good at digging, with my own instrument. But of course one must take ‘sent to try us’ the right way. God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn’t. In this trial he makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down.

~C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, 1961 (emphasis added)