Where Does it Hurt?

Where Does it Hurt?

Pain in this life is inevitable. Whether it be physical pain or emotional pain, we can count on incurring some kind of pain during our lifetime. The problem is not the pain we suffer but where we turn to for relief from that pain. To whom do we turn for healing? To whom do we turn for a reprieve from that which hurts us so deeply, so acutely? In John 5 we find the story of a man unable to walk into a pool for healing. Instead, Jesus told him to pick up his mat and walk. Will we turn to Jesus to ease our pain as this man turned to Him for healing?

Heartburn

“It’s complicated” may be the most honest description of most relationships. Have you ever had two friends on the outs with each other and they wanted you to choose sides? Barnabas did when Paul and Mark had a conflict. And these are three of the most important leaders of the early church. Have people wondered why you are talking with a person who is living far from Christ? Jesus understands. It happened when He was talking with the woman caught in adultery and with the woman at the well. People are complicated and relationships get tangled. Mercy, grace, and forgiveness can untangle the complicated relationships in our lives.

Feel the Sting

We often hear, “I will do it myself,” or “I got this and don’t need any help.” There are many things we can fix all on our own, normally physical sorts of things–flat tires, torn clothing or broken furniture. But filling the gap, that void in our lives caused by loss, is not something we alone can fix. Generals often witness loss of life in numbers that are difficult to comprehend; one of those great military leaders was General Robert E. Lee. Where did the powerful leader go to find hope? Who did he turn to for help? In General Lee’s own words, “In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.” “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

How and When

Communication is a two-way street. When God wants to know “Where Does It Hurt?” we have a responsibility to him and to ourselves to answer that question through prayer. We, as believers, must express our thoughts and needs so He can answer our cries for help. While it is true God is all-knowing, it is also true He still requires we ask Him for things. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.” God expects us to ask! 1 John 5:14-15 says “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him.”