Our Deepest Hurts

Isaac Brown looks like any other five year old boy.   He’s learning to read, do basic math, and all of the other things a boy his age would do.  But all is not what it seems…  because Isaac lacks what so many of us take for granted… the ability to feel pain.  He can unflinchingly touch a hot stove, break a bone without knowing it, or step on broken glass.  He knows that when he sees blood, it’s not a good thing… and he needs to seek help.   This extremely rare genetic condition, if not kept under watchful eye, could lead to accidental death or disfigurement due to the lack of a built-in survival mechanism.

Ironically, many in the world envy his circumstances…. they would love to go 24 hours without a single bit of pain.  And not just physical pain… people want to block out emotional and relational hurt as well.  What they fail to realize is that pain is useful.  When we touch a hot stove, the nerve endings signal the brain to remove the hand… thus preserving the skin and our health.  That pain has a purpose.   And no matter how badly you hurt today… yours does too.  Maybe you find yourself going through some other type of pain… a breakup… a loss… a memory of someone who used to abuse you… I want to challenge you to think of that pain differently today. James tells us in Chapter 1, verse 2, that our pain should be a source of joy.  Joy?  We should be happy when things hurt?  Why?  Because we know three things:  God will walk with us through that pain, we will grow as a result of hurting, and that our experience will help others in similar situations in the future.  So today, don’t just wish for the pain to subside… ask God to help you leverage it for growth… knowing that it is through our deepest hurts that our greatest and most life-changing lessons are learned.  

Heartbroken?

At Potential Church, we talk to so many people who are suffering.  Maybe they experience a dating breakup, a failed marital relationship, or just an overwhelming sense of failure or loss.  I turn to this scripture as I provide counsel...

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

I love this verse.  Simply put, it says that when we hurt... God is there.  But lets look at it a little closer.   More specifically...the word “brokenhearted”.  Ever felt that way?   Have you ever had your heart broken?  Maybe she said I do... but really didn’t.  Maybe you risked it all... and lost it.  Perhaps you were abused, misused, or accused and it hurt.  You’ve cried all you can cry and now look skyward... desperately hoping for a sign from God that everything will be ok.  

Today’s verse is for you... the brokenhearted and crushed.  God is near.. He saves you from the pain.  This scripture doesn’t say that He’ll get to you... or that He’s thinking about you... it says He’s NEAR you.  Next to you.  With you.  His loving arm over your shoulder and His eyes filled with empathy and concern.  

But God is there for a reason... not just to comfort... but to strengthen you.  God wants to remind you that you weren’t created to suffer.   You weren’t knit together to be a victim.  You weren’t designed to be in pain forever.   So what can you do to feel better?  

Choose.

Walter Anderson writes, "I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have -- life itself."

Every day that our lungs take in air is a blessing.  Every new set of 24 hours is a fresh opportunity to begin the journey back.  If your heart hurts today... choose to give it to God.  Decide on joy over sadness.  Focus on counting blessings not burdens.  God will be there.  Always.  When you are wounded... He heals.  Remember, you are far too valuable to this world... don’t let your pain define, restrict, or outright stop you from accomplishing the destiny for which you were created.   

Find yourself in an emotional pit today? Allow God to strengthen and heal you... and then choose to begin the walk out of it.  You can do it.  I’ll be praying for you as you do.