Pain, suffering, mentally challenged, physically struggling, emotionally up and down but spiritually holding on to the truths of Christ. Can you identify?
Life as we know it is full of various experiences. These experiences begin to shape how we respond to life, to people and to our emotions. I’m not sure about you but often times when I reflect on my past experiences, I tend to remember all of of the pain, suffering and the bad. If I am not careful, I can begin to look through the present through the lens of a painful past.
What I have to constantly remind myself, is that our past is there for a reason. I once heard a wise man say, “God never wastes an experience.”
Certain seasons of life seems to be either more celebratory or more challenging. I would even go to say certain seasons of life seem to be confusing. Notice I used the words, “seems to be.” Seeming as we know it, does not communicate the full truth. Seeming gives you and I an impression but this impression does not necessarily mean what I am going through is valid. Sometimes what we are feeling or not feeling is momentarily which can lead us to question, if what we are experiencing is real or not.
As a 29 year and a half young man, in my American context, in my present day, I am faced with some challenges. These challenges are new to me. However, in these challenges I have a choice in my response. Usually my first response is to feel the emotions of my challenges. The key for me is to not react immediately to my emotions but to find time to process what I am being challenged with. It is how I respond to my emotions that usually lets me know if I have not given myself space to first deal with how I am feeling.
It is actually good for you and I to acknowledge our emotions, however if we stay stuck in our emotions it is possible that the decisions that we need to make may not be great decisions.
Pain as you and I know hurts, it is tough, and it is not fun to go through. Tie in our emotions to the pain we are experiencing and life can feel like a whirlwind. The perspective that we have to keep in front of us, is why am I feeling this way, where is the pain coming from, what is God trying to show me, teach me and reveal to me? We have to confront the pain and our emotions or we may never receive the healing God wants to bring to our life.
I’m not sure what season you find yourself in today but understand this:
“Pain can blind you to seeing Jesus or pain can open your eyes to seeing Jesus more clearly.” – Derwin L. Gray
Jesus is with us in our pain. I don’t know where you are in your relationship with God or even if you believe in Him. What I do know is this: God is with us in our pain, feeling our pain and leading us in the direction to be healed from our pain. There is nothing that you are going through right now emotionally or spiritually that you cannot be healed from.
My prayer is that you and I can see Jesus more clearly as we deal with different seasons, emotions and pain. Look to Him. You will find that He is right there.
P.S. I was inspired to write this post from my current season of life but also from a message I heard at Transformation Church. Click here to listen to the sermon.
Josh Samarco 