This world that we live in is broken and full of pain. Domestic violence, disease, poverty, injustice, and death. People wonder, “if God is good, why does He allow war or children to suffer?” Why doesn’t He stop the evil that permeates our world? These are difficult questions that usually come from unsaved people. How can we answer their questions and point them to Jesus?
In the gospels, the life of Jesus assures you and me that God knows our pain. He has felt our pain, understands our pain, and felt our relational and physical pain. Think about everything that Jesus endured on earth: betrayal, torture, mocking, physical beatings, death on a cross.
God the Father gave His son to die for us, and Jesus endured that death. The difference between Jesus and us is that He suffered willingly. With this suffering came a promise to you and me, a guarantee of compassion and forgiveness of our sins.
While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26 informs us that Jesus felt agonizing stress. In verse 39, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus understood deep pain. God knows, He sees, and understands.
Will you let Jesus’ distress and suffering on this earth help you understand that you are indeed not alone?
Today’s Challenge: Read Isaiah 53:3-5. Listen to the words as you read, and connect our pain and Jesus’ pain.
My heart is burdened as well and find myself putting it in the form of a poem.