“the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down.” ~Psalm 146:8
Jesus identifies with our feelings, including our personal pain. By becoming human, Jesus experienced daily life as a baby, child, teenager, and man. In his ministry, in which he selflessly poured himself out, he suffered embarrassment, humiliation, abandonment, betrayal, and rejection. He knows how it feels to be emotionally and physically broken by other people.
Whatever pain you’re feeling today, know that God fully understands, and is near. You are seen and supported.
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power.
Trust God With Your Pain
Jesus is both God and human, so we can trust that he FULLY understands our pain. And because we’re his children, when we hurt, he hurts, like any good dad. If you’re pulling away from him, because you’re thinking that he might not understand, think again. God may allow us to go through pain, but we can bank on this: What God allows, God also promises to work through for our good. This doesn’t make us feel better, perhaps, but it gives our pain purpose.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Pain holds the potential to help us grow, unless we allow it to make us bitter. Pain also can expand our empathy and compassion. Who better for God to use to help someone in fresh pain, than someone who has passed through it? Our willingness to sit in another’s pain with them is a gift without measure.
God works through relationships. He tells us to do life together, supporting one another, so that when we are down, others can left us up. Isolating ourselves, which we tend to want to do when we’re in pain, isn’t helpful. It’s also not healthy to hold pain in. When we’re hurting, we need others to come along side us and remind us that things will work out. We need others to listen, to help us process through it. We need to feel like we’re not alone. And we’re not, because God is always near.
When you are in pain, picture God settling in beside you. Hear him say, “When you hurt, I hurt. I’m here. Want to tell me about it?”
NEXT STEPS:
- Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
- We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter, to learn how much Jesus loves you.
- Check out our Resolution Movement, to overcome hurt and thrive!
