“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him..” Hebrews 5: 7-9
We often hear that our personal pain and sufferings are trials that we must go through to bring us to God. We also hear how much God loves us and wants us to come to Him. These images often bring mental conflict, even mental anguish, as we try to reconcile the two. Some of us get it, while others fight it, and still others rebel against it by denying God and His sovereignty over us.
Even those of us who get it can’t often understand the why of it because we are in personal grave emotional or physical pain. Rationally we hear Jesus saying He loves us, but emotionally we hear Satan saying how a loving God would not cause us such pain and suffering. It is not until we are brought to our knees before Him in total desperation, and then lifted up in total ecstasy through God’s merciful love, that we understand what was necessary to bring us to Him.
God’s command to us is to love one another as He has loved us. And often, to bring us to Him, He uses others. In His infinite wisdom, He knows there are times when we cannot come to Him on our own because we are blinded by our personal pain and suffering. It is at these times we need people who believe to help us believe by showing the love of Jesus in ministering to our pain.
God uses pain and suffering to not only bring us to Him, but to also bring us together in His Name. We become as one with Him when working together for the common goal of bringing ourselves and others to Him. He works all things to the good of those who love him… “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
While easy to write about, not so easy to live through, and not so easy to recognize and know how to help others with. However, this doesn’t mean we ignore, give up, or don’t try. If we are suffering, we must pray even if we don’t feel it in our heart. He knows and responds even to this kind of prayer. We need to ask for help to believe and trust in Him. We need to ask Him to send us the help from others we may need. If we are not the one suffering, we still must pray. We may be the believer who must help someone else believe by loving them through Jesus. We need to pray for discernment in knowing who is in need, wisdom in knowing how to help, and for courage, strength and compassion to do what is needed.
We have liturgical seasons throughout the year, such as Lent, Advent, Easter and Christmas, that provide special times of penance, reflection, and then of rejoicing in the birth or rising of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Not all are able to recognize His saving grace and feel His risen joy in their hearts because of their personal pain and suffering.
We pray: Help us Jesus to find You in our own hearts, and to help all others to also find You in their own hearts. Grant us all that is needed to do your will. We ask this in your most Holy Name, Jesus Christ Our Risen Lord. Amen.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012-2013 
