Megan opens up in a genuine transparency to write a powerful message about trusting God with our pain. Excellent read!
///
Life hurts. Because the most painful experiences in life are among our most vulnerable, we can grow closer to God through even when things seem hardest. During the ministry of Jesus Christ, he identified multiple times his calling as a healer to the sick in body and spirit. Allowing him to heal us, however, requires trust and openness, even when trust is in itself excruciatingly difficult. As we choose to develop this faith, we are able to improve and truly come closer to God through every trial.
Fear of being hurt invites people to close themselves to the world, as opposed to faith persuading us to be open and vulnerable. As a very small child surrounded by older siblings and cousins, I quickly learned that expressing pain earned mockery, and so I decided to toughen up and never cry again. That lasted for about a week, until my grandfather passed away, but even still I’d rather pretend not to feel anything than allow others to see me in pain. Sometimes even prayer is difficult, because admission of heartache brings it closer. Nobody wants to be in pain. To avoid pain, too often we choose not to experience life as deeply as possible, even when that means sacrificing the good with the bad.
Christ understands all pain. As we learn to embrace mortal experiences, we develop true discipleship in following his example when it becomes difficult. In the past couple of years, I’ve dealt with some of my worst physical illness, the death of a cousin, a two year relationship and the consequences thereof, and various other struggles which have felt immensely heavy. Through these opportunities, I have been able to identify which aspects of my faith need strengthening, and strengthen them. Truly, trials can be blessings if we allow them to be. What better time is there to praise God and choose to follow him than when it’s hard to do so? 1 Peter 1:6-7 states, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ…” Through Christ we can learn to not only bear, but rejoice in the midst of trial and temptation.
The Atonement of Christ allows us to be edified as we learn to trust in the Lord and build our relationship with him. When the Savior stood alone in Gethsemane, was tried, scourged, condemned, crucified at Calvary and finally resurrected, he brought about the greatest miracle in all eternity. He took upon him not only the sins of all people, but our pains as well. Because of this, he understands us perfectly. He understands our physical illnesses, our struggles with temptation, our loneliness, our anger, and everything that feels impossible now. We have the choice to trust in him. We can allow him to heal us. As we prayerfully study and listen, we can come to know and trust Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Always, we have to decide whether we will choose to cut ourselves off and choose fear, or choose to have faith and trust in the eternal love of our Father. Choose trust.
Matthew 11:28-30 records an invitation that the Messiah issues to us all:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Again, life hurts. As Christians, we know this, and yet we have hope in the Redeemer Jesus Christ, who promises us that he will help us through anything, if we will but come unto him. Trusting God is hard in a lot of ways, but it is always worth it. Choose to trust Him with your soul, and all the pain therein. Allow yourself to be open and come closer to Him.
///
About the author:
Megan Halverson is an 18 year-old woman living in the Pacific Northwest. She currently serves in her church as a children’s pianist, works as a teacher and a nanny, and in her spare time enjoys writing, music, dance and family.
http://gracefulponderings.blogspot.com/
DELIGHTING IN HIM 
“Always, we have to decide whether we will choose to cut ourselves off and choose fear, or choose to have faith and trust in the eternal love of our Father. Choose trust.” This is such a good reminder. Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person