He’s There for You

Pain just might be a good thing.

Emmie, that’s crazy. Just delusional. Pain is not a good thing. Why would you think that?

These are probably the thoughts that are racing through your mind right now. But if you read on, things might start to make sense. Let’s take a look.

In the summer after first grade, I broke my arm. I was in the Cold-de-Sac one day, chatting with my friend as we were sitting our bikes. We weren’t even moving. But instead of putting my kickstand down or getting off my bike, I just stood there supporting my bike with one leg. The wind blew an acorn under my foot and I lost my balance. My arm broke my fall, but the concrete broke my arm. I was miserable. I couldn’t swim, I couldn’t play on the playground at the park, I couldn’t ride my bike…

Bumps, scrapes, and bruises. Broken arms. Broken toes. Little things like these, probably everyone has experienced. At the time, that blister seemed like the worst thing that ever happened to you, or that scrape was the ned of the world. But looking back, those things feel small. Put a band-aid on it, and you feel all better. Mom kisses it, and the pain goes away.

But we can’t cure bigger injuries with just a band-aid: The injuries in our heart, mind, and soul. These are called emotional injuries, or emotional pain. Grief, anxiety, depression, hurt, and loss are a few examples of these.

This quote? NOT TRUE. Clearly you’ve never been hit by a dictionary before. Words can pierce your soul. They can burn out that spark called your self-confidence. They can make you feel like you’re the worst person on the entire planet. Someone simply says “You’re ugly?” It hurts. It makes you rethink your appearance. It makes you spend tons of money on beauty products and new clothes. This is more like it:

“Sticks and stones break your bones, but words hurt even more. They can bring you up, or tear you down.

Choose Kindness.”

So why am I saying that pain is good?

Pain Brings You Closer to God.

When you feel pain, whether it’s emotionally or physically, you pray. You ask God to heal you, to help you through this. That long wait in the waiting room while a loved one is practically dying in the next room? You spend that time hopelessly praying, pouring your heart and balling your eyes out to Him.

And He can relate. Jesus felt a similar experience right before his execution:³⁹  And he came out and went,  as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he came to the place, he said to them,  “Pray that you may not  enter into temptation.” ⁴¹ And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and  knelt down and prayed, ⁴² saying,  “Father, if you are willing, remove his cup from me.  Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” ⁴³ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ And _w being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  ⁴⁵ And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and  pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Jesus can understand how you feel. He knows both physical pain and emotional pain better than anybody else. (His Crucifixion burdened him with both of these.)

Feeling hurt, loss, grief, or anxiety right now? PRAY. Remember, you are not alone! Jesus is your Band-Aid, your Mother’s kiss.

He’s there for you. Always.