We have been focusing on what it means to flourish, which is defined as an active state of production; to thrive, grow, succeed and prosper. We are learning that flourishing is a fight! The enemy of our souls seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came to give us abundant life, "life to the fullest." To live out the abundant life that Jesus offers is a battle, and victory does not always come easy.
Pain is one of the ways that the enemy seeks to destroy our lives. It only takes watching the evening news, scrolling through social media, or simply talking to a friend or neighbor, and we are confronted with stories of pain. We are full of questions and ask "why?" Pain has touched each one of our lives in different ways: the loss of a loved one; the death of a dream; the disappointment of heartbreak; the hurtful words of a "friend"; the death of a marriage; betrayal; estranged relationships with family members; or loved ones facing illness. No one is exempt from experiencing pain, sorrow, and loss in this world. As believers in Jesus Christ, we want to know how we can flourish through pain.
First, is it even possible to flourish during a painful season? That depends upon your definition of "flourishing." There can be much spiritual flourishing and growth in a painful season. The argument can be made that "spiritual flourishing" is the most important type of "flourishing" there is. In some of the darkest times of my life, I have felt God's presence closer than ever before. And I was assured that He is real, present, and working in my situation in those moments, even when I didn't know the outcome at the time. My faith in God was developed and God opened my eyes to clearly see the value of the eternal over the temporal.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains:
it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
Unfortunately, pain can be something that drives us away from God. How we react to pain is an individual choice. What direction do you turn in your pain? Do you run to the Lord, seek Him, cry out to Him, press into Him? Or do you run away from Him?
What if you allow your pain to drive you to seek the Lord more than ever? What if you take all your hurts, heartaches, and sorrows and give them to the Savior - lay them at His feet? We are tempted to hold onto them, to not let them go so easily. But holding onto pain can cause more pain. When we give these to the Lord, He can make something beautiful out of our lives, even through our painful experiences.
Whatever you’re going through right now, I encourage you to seek the Lord. Don’t run from Him, but run to Him. Don’t allow your pain to separate you from the only One who can heal you from the inside out. JESUS is the only one who can heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. Bring it all to God, pour out your heart to Him, and ask Him to heal you from the inside out.
Psalm 147:3
"He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds."
Psalm 62:8
"Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah"
I'm so thankful that JESUS is the One who does the healing. We can bring every painful moment of our lives to Him, and He is strong enough to bear it. He’s the Only One who can heal a soul that’s been deeply wounded. He alone can bring beauty from ashes.
Isaiah 61:3
"To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord,
that He may be glorified.”
Pain brings us to a fork in the road of life. Pain forces us to make a choice. Will I keep trusting God? Will I keep my faith in Him? Or will I choose to let go of my faith in Jesus? Will I walk away from Him? In anger and frustration, will I say "I'm done with this"?
Prayer Tip #8: Run to Jesus in Your Pain.
When you're faced with these questions of the heart, that we often never verbalize, choose Jesus. Always choose Him. Over and over, choose the only One who can set the captives free from the pain of this world. He will one day wipe every tear from our eyes. This world is not the end. We can have HOPE in the greatest of suffering, pain, and grief, because we know that Jesus will one day remove all death, sorrow, crying and there will be no more pain. What a HOPE!
Revelation 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 7:17
"For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
We can choose to trust Jesus with our pain, because He knows pain. He endured cruelty, mockery, beating, false accusations, an unjust trial, a crown of thorns, and crucifixion at the hands of merciless Roman soldiers. Jesus understands pain. In Isaiah 53:3, the prophet Isaiah foretold many years before Jesus was born, about the pain He would endure, "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Jesus understands pain and sorrow. Because of this, when we experience pain, we have a special bond with our Lord. Philippians 3:10 reminds us, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death..." There is a fellowship we have with our Savior that we only experience during suffering.
Pain reminds us of what's really important in life. Our pain can bring us into a more intimate relationship with Jesus, and we can understand the power of HIS resurrection. Pain can open our eyes to the truth that this life is not the end; that Jesus has a place prepared for us; that one day we will be with Him forever; that He will wipe every tear from our eyes; that all our pain will be taken away from the One who laid down His life for us. We can confidently place our pain, grief, sorrow, and heartache in the nail-scared hands of our loving Savior who endured so much to bring us eternal life.
Prayer Points:
Jesus, I place my pain, grief, sorrow, and heartache confidently in Your nail-scarred hands.
Lord, help me to run to You when I experience pain, knowing that You truly do understand.
Lord, I ask for You to heal me from the inside out because You are the only one who can bind up my broken heart.
Jesus, heal me of the pain I have endured at the hands of others. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me by your power.
Lord, I don't understand why I am facing this pain in my life, but I give it to You and ask for Your help.
Jesus, thank You for the promise that You will one day wipe away every tear from my eyes, and that there will be no more sorrow or pain.
Personal Prayer:
Father God,
I come open-handed with the pain I have endured. I place my pain, hurts, sorrows, grief, and heart-break confidently in Your nail-scarred hands. Thank You for the pain and suffering You endured when You willingly laid down Your life for me. Thank You for the crown of thorns, the beating, and the cross that You died on for me, to give me eternal life. When I suffer, help me to run to You, not away from You. I praise You that I can flourish spiritually even in a painful season - that my relationship with You will become closer, more genuine and more personal. Jesus, thank You for the promise to wipe away every tear from my eyes one day. Even when I don't understand, I trust You. You are worthy of my trust, my life, my heart, and my faith. No matter what I face, help me to always live for You.
In the mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
In Christ,
Michelle Staubs
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