Do You Care That I’m in Pain? [Part 2]

<< PART 1 – Disillusionment of self in suffering

PART 2 – Drawing near to God in suffering
Pain is not an illusion as many pugilists may lay claim to. It is a reality that affects us physically and emotionally.

Though pain may drive us to disillusionment, it also can drive us closer to God. Jesus is the example to whom we should look to in understanding suffering. Hebrews 2:10 says, “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that He should make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”

Jesus is our perfect leader who has tasted death for us and now we have a perfect example of One who has suffered, bled and died for our sake.

Tegan, a friend of mine, developed an incurable illness and now she can’t have kids (and by the way she really loves kids). And it was through these difficult times that her relationship with God grew deeper as she learned to rely on Him more.

Here is an excerpt of a conversation we had.

Me: [With an incredulous tone] How on earth are you not rocking in a corner, trying to convince yourself it’s a nightmare?!

Tegan: Whatever this is, God has given it to me because He has something more important in store. Maybe it’s so that I could focus on mission work. Maybe there’s a kid He wants me to adopt. I’m not sure, but He’s got the right plan.

Me: [Jaw drops]

Tegan: [She continues] And when I was completely frightened and upset over this, the only person who could help me through was God. What could my family and friends do? They don’t understand how hard this is. But He does. And I have to rely on Him to do what He wills.

Me: [Jaw hits the ground]

In speaking with her, the truth was reinforced once again—in our sufferings, we are make more aware of Him and of His goodness, and God is working to bring us closer to Him. He is the One who helped and is helping her through this difficulty.

We have a Savior who created and fashioned us in His likeness. He has forewarned of the difficulties this world holds but reassures us that He has already overcome it. Only He can promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us to the very end of the age.

If there is anyone who can get us through the tough journeys of life, Jesus can.

There are many times in a day where I’m put into difficult situations in which I must rely upon God and trust Him. And if I hadn’t, things really wouldn’t work out. All of us go through ups and downs in our life but nothing is too hard for God. Let’s remember: “with God everything is possible (Matthew 19:26b)”.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Filed under Writing and tagged with God's Protection, Suffering.