pain, hope, Jesus

Pain.

Pain is hard.
Physical, mental, emotional, long or short term...
Pain is, well... painful.
And, pain hurts.

Sure, pain can also be a blessing.
Pain can alert us.
Pain can inform us.
Pain can cause us to assess our distress in order to seek after a solution.
But what if we can find no solution?

Lord, isn't there a solution?

How do we live through this troubling, tiresome, ongoing pain?

Hope.

Hope is eternal certainty and assured joy.
Hope promises us peace.
Hope give us a future to move forward,
Into a life beyond our current pain.
Yes, hope always helps.

So, where can we get hope?
Who has promised to help us through the hurt?
Who can teach us how to use our pain to alert us, to inform us, to change us?
Who has the solution we seek?
Who can provide constant, reliable, glorious hope?

The answer is Jesus.
The hope is Jesus.
The help is Jesus.
The Way, the Truth, the Life is Jesus.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 
He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new."
"Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 
(Revelation 21:4-5)

Pain exposes God's grace to us.
Pain leads us to know Jesus more.
So pain, though difficult, is important.
Pain is for a purpose... His purpose.
Pain is a teaching tool.
Pain is necessary.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

So, in the day of prosperity be joyful,
And in the day of adversity consider this...
God has made the one as well as the other.

God has called us to seek Jesus for wisdom, direction, relief... help.
He will wipe away every tear.
He will take away death, and mourning, and crying...
He will remove all pain and make all things new.
He will make us new, believer!

Yes, Jesus is our hope.
Jesus is trustworthy and true.
Jesus is the solution.
So, let us live in thankfulness, obedience, and the joy He extends.
Let us use our pain for His purpose.
Let us live this day, no matter how hard, rejoicing faithfully, lovingly, and hopefully in Him...
For all things will be made new!

The answer is Jesus.
The hope is Jesus.
The help is Jesus.
The Way, the Truth, the Life is Jesus.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:2-4 & 12)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson