Scripture: Luke 7:11-17
Journal: How are you like the widow of Nain?
Where is God in the midst of the pain in your life? How do you think he feels about it? Tell him how you are feeling about your pain
today, and then listen for his response.
Reflection:
Where is God when we are in pain? It is an age-old question. One that, depending on how we answer it, can
significantly impact our view of, and our relationship with, God. Because when we are in pain our tendency is
to think that God either does not care, or that he is not good. Either he does care enough to do anything
about our suffering, or he can’t do anything about it. Or, maybe even worse, he won’t do anything
about it. All of which leave us either angry
and frustrated, or anxious and insecure.
Then along comes Jesus, the
one who was sent to reveal to us the heart of the Father. Jesus, since he is God in the flesh, shows us
exactly how God feels about our pain.
And not only that, he also shows us how God longs to redeem that pain,
in his own time and in his own way.
On this occasion Jesus comes
across a woman who has just lost her only son; and that after she had already
lost her husband. Can you imagine the
grief and the sadness and the pain?
Maybe you can. Maybe you have
been there. Maybe you are there. Life has dealt her two crushing blows back-to-back,
and she is left reeling. “Where in the
world is God?” she must be thinking in the midst of the chaos, “Doesn’t he even
care?”
Enter Jesus. And when Jesus sees her, immediately his heart
goes out to her (NIV). He is heartbroken
(The Message). His heart overflows
with compassion (NLT). He is moved
with love and compassion for her from the very depths of his being. That is how God feels about her pain. That is how God feels about your pain. He is brokenhearted. Her broken life is not at all the way he
intended it to be. But, even still, in
the midst of her grief, God is able to redeem her pain.
Jesus stops the procession,
approaches the coffin, places his hand on it, and calls the young man back to
life. The young man sits up and begins
to speak. Then Jesus gives the young
man back to his mother. God
redeems her pain. God brings life out of
death, just the way he always does.
Tears turn to laughter, sadness to joy, mourning to dancing. And that is the way it will be for your pain
as well. Maybe not today, but
someday. Someday your pain will be
redeemed. Someday your sorrow will be
turned to joy. Someday Jesus will
tenderly touch your face and wipe every tear from your eyes. And sorrow and sadness will be no more.
And they were all filled with awe and
praised God (NIV), the Scriptures tell us.
“God has come to help his people,” they said. In fact, he has turned his face towards his
people (JBP). God is not
distant. He is not disinterested. He is not uncaring. He is not far off. He is right here, right in the midst of our
pain.
Why is there so much pain
and suffering in the world? The only
honest answer to that question is that I have absolutely no idea. How does God feel about that pain and suffering,
and where is he in the midst of it? The
answer to those two questions is a little more clear, all because of
Jesus. God is heartbroken over our
pain. And he is right in the middle of
it. That’s why he came to earth in the
first place; to both share our suffering and to bear our suffering, that one
day it might all be redeemed.
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have promised
that one day you will turn my mourning into dancing. O how I long for that day! Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment