As a culture, I’ve noticed we’re not exactly fond of pain. Pleasure? We’re all over it. Food, travel, music - we’d much rather focus on the things that bring our souls up, not down. Let’s face it: no one Instagrams their pain. No one’s out there taking pictures of their tear-stained pillowcase like: just cried myself to sleep! #epic. I don’t even think our preference for pleasure is a bad thing. In Isaiah, God refers to Jesus as “My chosen one in whom My soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1). God is, in his deepest nature, filled with delight. Especially about us. He’s the most joyful, indulgent guy around. We love pleasure because he does. So what about pain? If God loves us so deeply and delights in us, what do you do when your choices (or someone else’s) land you in a world of hurt? Earlier this year I got to ask God just that. My own poor decision-making skills, coupled with some unexpected changes in my family, meant I spent a good number of months in some pretty real pain. Get me out of this! I remember moaning. God cannot possibly be okay with this kind of pain in my life, can he?! This is NOT what I signed up for, Jesus. Clearly this has to stop. It didn’t. God did not swoop in and fix everything. But as it turns out, those months of pain might end up being some of the most important months of my life. Why? Well, here’s what I learned:
The journey hasn’t been a fun one. It hasn’t been glamorous. But it’s a powerful thing to look at pain and--instead of being afraid--know that you’ll come through it healthier than ever. I’m starting to notice I’m more free, less fearful and filled with more joy than I’ve ever been. Now that’s epic. “For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Prov 3:12)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
ABOUT...Writer/social worker/(seriously) amateur baker out of Minneapolis, MN. Archives
June 2017
Categories
|