2 Embracing the Pain

2

Embracing the Pain

I have a great burden on my heart and want to share it with as many people as possible.

I am burdened for people who are hurting in a major way. We all have hurts, but there are so many who are hurting much more than the others.

Often, when we want to help or minister to such people it seems not possible because their hurts have created a barrier or wall and they can’t get through it. Some Christians have been hurt so much by other Christians, that they will not go to church or fellowship with other believers. For them, it is all too painful.

There are many great books and passages of Scripture that can help such people, but they might not know about them and are hesitant to read them. The book, Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen has ministered to me in a powerful way. Henri Nouwen speaks of finding the courage to embrace our own brokenness and make our feared enemy into a friend, even claiming it as an intimate companionship.

Shortly after reading it, I had a very painful experience with a friend who deeply criticized one of my closest friends. It could have really upset me and ruined our time together, but instead, I embraced it as allowed by God and part of what life is all about. Great joy and peace flooded my heart and I was free. I know it doesn’t always work that way and that others have hurts a hundred times greater than mine, yet they are not too big for God.

How can we who are forgiven of our sins and delivered from hell, not truly forgive with our whole being those who have sinned against us? We know that all sin, and we teach and preach over it. So, why are we surprised when people sin against us?

We all fail. We all sin. Can we not see our own sins that are so often part of the hurt and pain that we are now living with? Oh, how easy for the self-life to blame others and fail to see our part in the situation.

In some cases, people are blaming God and that becomes even more complex. Books like, Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey etc., have been written to help deal with this.

There is great hope for all of us. God has used us and he has a great plan for our lives in our pilgrimage to become more like Christ, which should always be our great goal!

Let us embrace the pain and hurt and allow them to make us better people for his glory.