How the Church Handles Pain

Whenever someone I know is hurting, my first instinct is to bake them a casserole. Or send some pizza. Or maybe drop off a pint of ice cream and some flowers. Because I want to fix the pain. I want to ease the suffering. Bringing some sunshine back to their cloudy skies. This is a very typical response. Especially among western evangelical Christians. I see a hurt, I find a solution. Even if it's just a band-aid, there's a certain smug comfort that comes with being able to meet someone's needs. I get a pat on the back. They get some relief. Problem solved. Let's get back to counting our blessings and remembering our future glory. Right? That's all that matters. 

via GIPHY

Maybe for some things a bouquet of flowers is enough, or a casserole would be sufficient. What about deep pain? The kind of pain that leaves scars on a soul? When faced with terminal illness, chronic fatigue, mental anguish believers in Christ can not be left with platitudes and head pats. When we are suffering at a level of darkness that feels very far from the light we need more than that. 

Looking at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane I see a man acquainted with sorrows. Someone who KNOWS what it is to be in pain. Torment and anguish were there in the garden with Him. What did Jesus do when faced with that level of need? That depth of desolation? He turned to the Father. Friends were sleeping, betraying, sending the wrong messages. The only one who understood what Jesus needed was the Father. This is our example of what to do with pain. 

Jesus did not ignore His pain. He did not minimize it. Jesus didn't list out the blessings surrounding the suffering to come on the cross. Jesus explored that devastation. He brought the whole broken mess to the Father. Asking repeatedly for it to be taken away. Searching for a way thru the misery that didn't end with the agony of the cross. Our Savior wept tears of blood, so great was his anguish. Yet He didn't

curse God. Jesus railed, questioned, sought alternatives, but He never turned away from God's will. 

This is our roadmap through grief. Following Christ into the garden, we can see what being a Christ-follower and misery should look like. Because we will face suffering and torment on this earth. That is a promise our Lord gave us. Grief is not something that can be neatly gone through. It is not a pretty experience. Grief, sorrow and misery are all emotions we would prefer not to deal with. Because we are afraid that going into that fog might mean never coming back out. 

Church, let us bind up the wounds of our hurting. Staying with those who are in pain. Willingly getting our hands and feet in the mire of their suffering. So that we may remind those in the darkness that there is light. Never dragging them out of the season. But gently leading them by the hand toward the cross where all of our burdens are left. 

Dear one, it is only thru the miasma of the unknown that we come out into glory. Only when we have experienced the dark places can we be truly grateful for the light. It is not our Father's wish that we would suffer. But it is a fact of living in a broken world. Let us remember that it is in these sufferings that we will be refined and polished into our heavenly selves. But may we also not skip over the dirty parts of humanity because we are afraid. Let us be confident that our God really does understand every part of our humanity. He consoles as one with the knowledge of suffering. He comforts us as one who understands. You are not alone in your suffering.