Pain in the Midst of Celebration

As I prepare this morning to spend Thanksgiving with my family, I realize there are many people who feel they have little reason to celebrate today. Perhaps you're one of those people. Perhaps you woke up this morning reeling from the effects of a recent loss or betrayal. Perhaps you're still suffering in the aftermath of a life you never chose for yourself and given the chance, would certainly never choose again. Perhaps you find yourself in a situation that you could have never imagined, in circumstances you never thought were possible. You find yourself alone, without hope and dreading the day.

The expectation is that you show up with a smile on your face and with thankfulness in your heart. Your grief, pain and sorrow are imperceptible to those around you. With each hug, the scream inside of you gets a little louder. With each laugh, you die a little more inside; you feel just a little lonelier. No one can imagine the pain you feel. No one sees. No one understands.

Life is a cycle of celebration and loss, joy and sadness, healing and pain. The human experience is inevitably tied to suffering; we cannot escape its clutches. However, the pain that you're feeling is not yours alone. Through the ages, people have experienced death, loss, betrayal, rejection, pain, humiliation and abuse. It's woven into the fabric of our human tapestry. In fact, Jesus Himself experienced these things while on the earth - the pain, humiliation and rejection that He faced was unthinkable. The fact that He did it for us, unimaginable. Fortunately, because He endured these things, He is able to understand our sufferings. He can understand what we are going through, and more than that, He can help.

Our enemy, the devil, seeks to orchestrate and exploit pain and suffering. His purpose is to kill and destroy. He wishes to steal from us the redemption, healing, peace and joy that Christ died for us to have. He wants you to feel as if you are alone and that no one understands what you are going through. However, the bible is clear that he is a liar and the father of lies. There is no truth in him. The bible says that we can hold firmly to what we believe - Jesus is our High Priest; He intercedes on our behalf; He understands our weakness; He faced the same things that we do, and we can confidently and boldly approach the throne of God to receive His mercy and grace when we need it most. 

Even though today may not be easy, even though you may be hurting, please remember that you are not alone! Psalm 34:18 says that God is close to the brokenhearted, and He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. He loves you; He understands you, and He is there for you. The bible assures you that if you seek Him, you will find Him. Simply reach out, call to Him and He will be there. There is hope!

The Next Step:

• Read Isaiah 53:3-12, New Living Translation
• Read Hebrews 2:18, New Living Translation
• Read 1 Peter 5:8, Amplified Bible
• Read John 10:10, Amplified Bible
• Read John 8:44, New Living Translation
• Read Hebrews 4:14-16, New Living Translation
• Read Psalm 34:18, New Living Translation
• Read Jeremiah 29:13, New Living Translation