Where is God in my pain?

Maybe your parents just got a divorce. Maybe someone you love died. Maybe you moved and started going to a new school, and you miss your friends. Maybe you feel alone in your pain. We live in a broken world where bad things happen, and because bad things happen, we hurt and feel the emotional pain this sinful world brings. We may wonder why God doesn’t shield us from all these hardships. After all, God loves us, so why doesn’t He protect us from all this hurt? We may never know the answer before Jesus returns, but we do know that sin and all its effects (like pain, death, sickness, mental illness, and brokenness) entered the world when Adam and Eve first sinned (Genesis 3). So does God just sit in heaven not caring at all when we hurt because of humanity’s sin? No, no, no! God’s response to our sin, pain, and brokenness was to send Jesus, His perfect Son. Jesus, who is God, experienced everything it means to be human in this broken worldhurt, pain, rejection, and even death. Then He resurrected from the dead, totally defeating all sin, death, and brokenness! He sent His Holy Spirit to be in His forgiven followers, and He promised to return to renew this broken world and get rid of all sin and death, permanently. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are God’s child. He loves you more than you can know. He is with you through your pain and the tough times of your life. God longs for you to depend on His comfort to bring you through the times of hurt. When we are hurting, sometimes God seems so far away. Even Jesus Himself felt abandoned by God on the cross (Matthew 27:46). But God has a great love and affection for you, and He has a deep desire to stand by you in your pain. God is a God of compassion and a God who comforts. Read the passages in 2 Corinthians again. These verses reveal that as God comforts us, He also equips us to comfort others. The most important thing we can do as Christians is to receive God’s love, especially through the body of Christ (fellow Christians), then overflow His love to others. In the same way, as we receive God’s comfort, we can comfort others. And we can look to Jesus, who knows firsthand about pain and suffering. Doug Velting Are you experiencing hurt right now? If you’re ready to bring your hurt to God in prayer, He is always ready to receive you. He longs for you to draw near to Him and be honest about your pain so He can comfort you and give you hope. Sometimes, the pain feels like it’s too much. Many people in the Bible experienced this, just take a look at Psalm 22. This psalm also anticipates Jesus and the pain He would endure because He loves us. How might it comfort you to know that Jesus suffered so He could be with us and, when He returns, remove all suffering forever? Often, God comforts us through other people. Who can you talk to about your hurt? If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Psalm 22; Matthew 27:45-50; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; 4:16-18