WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF PAIN?

Jesus was both God and man. 

He experienced pain being a man like all of us. Good Friday was one of His painful moments. It was the darkest and most painful day of His life. His death showed a bleak future for God’s chosen people. Maybe most of His followers already gave up. Maybe they thought - “its over”.  The man they believed to be Messiah failed in His mission.

Jesus foretold his disciples the pain and difficulty that He will have to undergo. In Luke 18:33 we read - “and after they have scourged him they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise.”

Let us recall what happened in the first Good Friday and relate it to our own moments of pain. What should a Christian's attitude be towards pain?

There are 3 points that we can consider.

1. Accept the fact that there are no exemptions
2. Always look forward to the resurrection
3. Use your experience to understand others

Point number one - "Accept the fact that there are no exemptions"

You may already be a follower of Christ. But that does not make you exempted from trials. The apostles of Jesus left everything for Him. They left everything and followed Jesus. Yet, they were persecuted, stoned, tortured, some crucified and killed. 

Mary said yes to follow God's will. She was sinless. She obeyed God all the time. But she experienced extreme pain as she personally witnessed how her Son was tortured. She was there at the moment of Jesus' last breath. She was not spared from pain.

Even Jesus, the son of God, had to undergo pain. God does not promise a pain-free life here on earth.

This leads us to point number two - "Always look forward to Easter".

Jesus' enemies were able to put Him in the grave on Friday. They must have celebrated big time that day. They did not expect the coming miracle on Sunday. Easter proved that the grave could not hold Jesus. Death was not the end for Him. On the third day, Jesus came out of the grave victorious!

Maybe you heard the quote that says - "what does not kill you makes you stronger". This is what pain brings to our life. Trials makes us stronger and closer to God. Resurrection teaches us that God will always finish what he started. No matter how dark it looks, no matter how hopeless it appears, no matter how long it has been, no matter how many people are letting you down, simply have faith. God will take you through Good Friday to Sunday. You will reach Easter because God always brings it to completion.

You might have the same recollection from your past issues too. When you were in the midst of pain you thought it was already the end for you. But now, you look back and smile. 

The last point is this - " Use your experience to love others".

Christians are not called to dwell on their pain forever. God allows us to undergo pain so that we may feel the pain of others. We should be a source of comfort most specially to those who are experiencing a similar trial to what we had in the past. Cancer patients relate more to Cancer survivors. Broken relationships heals faster when you a comforted by someone from a broken family.

Pain calls us to love and God is love.

This simply means that God is present in our pain because He exudes perfect love. The next time you ask yourself "where is God in the midst of my pain?", look at the cross. The cross reminds us that God is there in the very midst of our pain.

If you are going through a dark time now, always look forward to the day of resurrection. Be firm and believe that God will soon cause you to "rise up".

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your resurrection. We want to focus on you. Our situation may look bad, with no sign of hope but our faith in you will bring us out into the light. We pray for your Holy Spirit to be our source of encouragement. Amen!