"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
1 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
In these times of trouble where do you turn to for comfort?
I remember long ago I had asked the Lord... “Why do I go through so much hurt?” And He quickly whispered... “So that you can never minimize someone else’s pain.” I had to really let that soak in.
Was I willing to see hurt in a different way?
Sometimes we experience hurt so that we can never minimize someone else’s pain. We all go through hurt and it doesn’t have to isolate you, it can be used to connect in a way like nothing else can. You can allow the hurt you’ve experienced to soften your heart to see others in their own pain. You relate, you understand and moved to compassion. In the long run your experienced pain produces compassion for the hurting and compassion connects hearts.
None of us welcomes pain. If we can buy "insurance" to protect us against any possible future pain, I think we would, but there's no such thing. Our assurance is in Christ knowing that when we experience pain, He will bring us through a healing process and in the process creates something new. As I reflect on my own life and everything I've been through, I come to realize if I turned my pain over to God, He used it to bring something good from it. Hurt became the doorway to the comfort I longed for which produced compassion for others.
Are you willing to let hurt be a tool in God’s hand to not only bring healing into your life, but someone else’s?
Being believers in Christ we've been given a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this broken world. As much as we see our lives through our own eyes becoming consumed with how we feel and what we think, we need to recognize the people around us. We can be "the light of the world" as Matthew 5:14 says, reflecting God's goodness to a world in need. So many people are hurting especially in these times, not understanding why these things are happening. I don't have the answer to why, but I do know what we can do in the midst of trouble.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
Love draws people together. It's what drew us to the cross. 1John 3:16-18 says, "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brother and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion---how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." We can come together in love and be unified in our differences… show love, speak love, share love.
To some level we all have experienced hurt, dealt with hurt and through Christ experience healing from that hurt. Remember your own pain, how Jesus came along side of you, comforting you and bringing healing into your pain. With that same comfort you received, comfort others in pain. Let compassion rise in your heart because you remember what it feels like to hurt and lead others to Jesus, the One who fills our hearts with hope and heals us from our pain. Remember compassion connects, not only to each other but to Christ. Be that doorway to point the hurting people around you to the only One who can heal their pain.
"Let the peace of Christ rules in your hearts, since as members
of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:15 NIV
Song: Graves Into Gardens ft. Brandon Lake by Elevation Worship