By Augustus Henry (PhD)
In our church community in Jonesboro Georgia, a young father recently died leaving a young grieving mother with two little children to raise. The breadwinner of a nearby home just got diagnosed with fourth-stage cancer. A young couple just got divorced leaving two children suffering with mental anguish. An 18-year-old recently got shot innocently by the police, leaving his mother wondering why he had to die so early. Another young man got shot during a robbery. Last week, we learnt that because of the current US immigration policy, 6 and 7-year-olds were coming home to no parent because their parents had been arrested by ICE. That is no different from circumstances in countries all over the Caribbean. We recently learned of the violence in the south of Saint Lucia, with young people being both victims and perpetrators of the pain inflicted on families.
We now live in a world where life is mostly painful. And that pain does not discriminate. Everyone is carrying some sort of burden or suffering.
But I am here to tell you that there is hope for the alleviation of pain. That pain management is not out of reach, even right now.
Most believe that mothers feel more pain than fathers. But pain is pain and only the person who feels it knows its intensity. One person cannot measure another’s pain. Even so, the fact remains that pain is here and there is nothing we can do to rid our little space called earth of pain. Sin introduced pain here, and it made humans miserable.
Here is the introduction of suffering: As sin enters the human family, God said to the woman: “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth; in pain, you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you” (Genesis 3:16). The context here is that Adam and Eve had sinned, and the travail of childbirth is one of the consequences of disobedience. Because of sin, the whole earth was cursed, and death entered in as a result (Romans 5:12). So, we may conclude that sorrow is one of the many results of the original sin.
No one can substitute pain for pain. Although, in the Christian community, we use the cliché, bearing one another’s burden. It is physically impossible to take someone else’s pain. If that was the case, David the king of Israel, the master of all he surveys, the chief of the army, captain of the host, and ruler of all the people, would easily find someone to carry the despair of his son’s death. But no one could because no one could transfer agony from one body to another. That is why we need to empathise with and have respect for the hurt that others feel.
Many in the bible suffered hurt and sorrow: Job said, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble”
Jesus can heal pain
He was bruised for our iniquity. 2 Timothy 3:10-12: Who live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution. Even Jesus was a victim of suffering and persecution: “Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands” He was pierced in the side, spiked with thorns in his head, nailed and hanged on a cross and when he was thirsty given vinegar (John 19:31-37).
2nd Corinthians 11:25:
One of Jesus’ followers, Paul said: “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;”
Some of us are going to experience ordeals that are worse: “It may be cancer or a sore throat. It may be the illness or loss of someone close to you. It may be a personal failure or disappointment in your job or schoolwork. It may be a rumour that is circulating in your office or your church, damaging your reputation, and bringing you grief and anxiety. Pain is real!
Here is the hope in our suffering
Isaiah 53:3-5, We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with the bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! This tells us that just as you know pain, Jesus knows it too; and, he has conquered pain for you.
He has the power to heal.
He has the power to comfort.
He has the power to mend a broken heart.
Jesus can ease pain.
Matt. 11:28-30, Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke, it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls.
If you are searching for peace today and easement for your souls, Jesus says come to me. Jesus said to his disciples, “I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation but take heart. I have overcome the world”– John 16:33.
But there is something greater than the easing of physical pain
John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
He also left us a message: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
To summarize, remember Jesus came to bring peace. He refers to himself as the prince of peace. He also is in league with the holy spirit whom he calls the Comforter. 1 Peter 5:9 says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” However, the ultimate victory over pain and suffering is found in Revelation 21: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And there shall be no more pain.”
I say Amen!