Embrace Your Pain ...

The last 2 weeks have been a “roller coaster” of emotions. Our new Daughter in-law’s father died suddenly two weeks before the wedding. We all had to both grieve and celebrate at the same time.

Then news reached me about my nephew, who has been diagnosed with cancer. He is going through a very difficult time of chemotherapy and not looking forward to a radical surgery.

All of this causes us ask: "what in the world is going on?" As I settled down I realized that we are part of a multitude of people who are experiencing pain, suffering and grief.

One thing is sure, God cannot be blamed for all the suffering in the world. We are living in a sinful world in which all of us bear some responsibility. So lets stop the “Blame Game”.

Let me share something Max Lucado wrote in his devotional "Upwards:

WE DON’T like to admit it, but pain is a fact of life. Sooner or later the “p” word comes into everyone's path. And when it does how do you deal with it? Do you let pain conquer your spirit, or do you stare it down, armed with a “stubborn joy”?

Even in pain God is near. He wants you to grasp the peace that defies pain. He wants to be with you, facing pain with his holy joy. Only he can show you the path to a defiant peace.

God’s purpose is greater than our pain, and he has a greater purpose than our problems. Our cries are not going to slow down the purpose of God - have confidence in that. Years from now we may realize it was those struggles that taught us something we could not have otherwise learned - that there was a purpose in our pain.

Pain teaches us to set our hopes on heaven, to hold firmly to the promise of eternal life, so that we can withstand the struggles and storms of this world may His holy Word be our soothing medicine to our wounded heart.

With those wise words in mind, consider the pains you may be suffering ... God is probably doing something great for you. He will give you the strength to endure and to remember the words of Revelation 21:4 ... "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Embrace your pain ... you are growing in the Lord!

Paul Weresch

Do Christians Cry?

Last week I was preparing for the wedding of a young couple, when the tragic news reached me that the father of the bride passed away suddenly, he died of a massive heart attack.

The question that we faced at that moment; “shall we go on with the wedding plans?”

In consultation with the family they decided that they will both mourn the death of the father and a week later celebrate the wedding for which they had prepared themselves and to which they look forward.

Now that I am involved in both morning and celebrating I am reminded of Life’s reality: Life and death, sorrow and celebration exist side-by-side. I took great comfort in the words of the apostle Paul: “We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.” (Romans 8:28 CEV)

A misconception promoted by some Christians is that, Christians should be smiling and happy at all times. There are some who suggest that those who have been “saved” have no right to be sorrowful. Such people want to make us feel guilty if we show any signs of being downhearted. But let me declare: “real Christians do cry!” After, all they are followers of one who was himself a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.

Christians, as all people go through the valley of the shadow of death. Christians are allowed to cry. What is different about Christians is that their sorrow does not lead to despair.

In the midst of their sorrow they are able to reassure each other that a better day is coming. They're able to encourage one another that the sting of life’s tragedies will one day be swallowed up in great victory.

Read the words of Paul to the Corinthian Church: “But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ASV)

But that is not all, God has promised that one day he will gather us all together in a place where the tears are wiped away and there will be no more sorrow no more paying no more death. It is that future breaking into the midst of our present sufferings that enable us to celebrate in the midst of suffering. Christians do cry; but on the other hand in their sadness they know there is victory.

Paul Weresch