Responding to Pain

Are you hurting inside? Do you feel like giving up on life?

When a crisis arises, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to pretend that nothing is wrong. To find relief from your problems, you must first acknowledge them and the inner despair they cause. Only then can you embrace the “Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort.”

Remember, each time we face a crisis, people are watching for our reactions and wondering how we will respond. They want to see if being a follower of Jesus Christ really makes a difference when life gets tough. It�s important to acknowledge the reality of our pain. But we must also show our friends that no matter what we face, the Holy Spirit enables us to have a peace that passes understanding. God Himself is our source of encouragement and consolation.

The apostle Paul experienced desperate need–physically, emotionally and financially. But because he also experienced the God of all comfort meeting every one of his needs, he was able to declare to the world: “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” We, also, need to proclaim those powerful words to the lost in our world.