Life is hard. There is so much pain and suffering. How do we deal with the pain? What do we do when a loved one dies? What do we do when we are ultimately betrayed? How do we survive that, let alone understand it? I’ve had some painful experiences in my life, but nothing compared to a lot of people I know. Questions abound. Where is God? What part does he play in it? What are we supposed to do now? Go on with life as usual? Self-medicate? Many people turn to alcohol or drugs or sex… anything to make themselves feel better for at least a little while. You just want to feel relief from the pain, even though you know it’s only temporary. Welcome to real life.
I really feel like I was never equipped with any framework to understand real pain and suffering. When those I love suffer, I suffer with them. It effects me. In infects me. The best I can do is let out a scream, “this is not the way it is supposed to be!!!!” I don’t want to hear that it’s part of God’s plan, I completely reject that idea. This may be something that some people need to think to be able to go on with life, but it is not an acceptable answer to me. It leaves the situation unchanged and gives a blessing to what I can only see as the work of something evil. Something or someone is trying to destroy people, and often succeeding. Whatever or whoever this is, I want to oppose it. That is my adversary.
Where did this come from? I have screamed that same scream. It doesn’t go away. I have been apart of more and deeper pain than I have ever thought possible, and it hasn’t all been my own.
I too suffer along side of, and I think that is part of the shaping process. When I feel another’s pain is when I do stand up and against my/their adversary. I don’t know where it goes from here, but I know that I have spent lots of time lately travailing with people who are hurting and don’t know how to not hurt. I have been praying with them and crying with them, and crying out with them. I want to see God’s power, and His healing.