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