Where is God in our pain?

Sometimes, we go through situations that might feel out of control and wonder where God is during those times. When those situations don’t change, we wonder if God really cares about us. Genesis talks about how God just spoke a word, and the earth, heavens, birds, and everything got created. We might wonder why he doesn’t say a word about my situation, my family member’s or friends’ situation, or the pain happening worldwide so they can change.

It looks like a lot of people in the Bible wondered the same, so at least we are not alone in asking those questions.

1) Paul was facing some pain, and we don’t know if it was a health issue or some other situation in life. Paul asked God to take that pain away, but instead of changing the circumstances, God said He would give him grace to walk through it. According to 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 “Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly; therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (New American Standard Bible).

2) David also went through so much pain and wrote the book of Psalms. According to Psalm 13:1-2 “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day?” (New American Standard Bible).

3) Job also had his share of pain, and he lost his family and everything. According to Job 30:20, “I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me” (New American Standard Bible).

Sometimes, we go through pain because of the consequences of our sins. Other times, it could be because of other people’s sins. In those times, the only person we have control of is “ourselves.” we can only control how we respond to those circumstances. There are other times we might be going through pain just because we live in a broken world.

I loved God’s response to Job’s question. According to Job 38: 4-7, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the measuring line over it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (New American Standard Bible).

We might not know why we are going through pain in our lives, but we can go to God and be honest about our pain. He is the only one who can comfort us because He holds our future and everything in this earth and in heaven. According to John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (New American Standard Bible).

We also have this hope that one day, all this pain will go away, and we will be with Jesus in heaven.

“How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone, and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity

There will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord

And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear
In the end, we’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears.”

– Phil Wickham

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