Soul Pain
One thing is certain, when you observe our world, there is certainly no absence of pain. It is all around us, suffering of all kinds. It is part of being human. We can thank Adam and Eve for that. It was in the Garden of Eden where pain was birthed as a result of disobedience to God. Mankind has suffered ever since. Pain is a coat of many colors; it comes in all shapes and sizes, and it is no respecter of persons.
Soul pain is maybe one of the worst experiences. People do their best to self-medicate to ease their misery but to no avail. You can numb feelings, but the source of pain remains until dealt with. The soul is defined as our mind, will, and our emotions. Emotional pain can be accompanied with physical pain, but not always.
Have you ever noticed in a doctor’s office or counseling office a chart with many different cartoon facial expressions? The varied faces help to identify a person’s pain intensity. Pain can be self-inflicted or other afflicted. In either case, it hurts! C.S. Lewis said, “Pain is a great megaphone to a deaf world.” There are few things that get our attention as pain does, and nothing can distract us faster than pain. Pain can rearrange a person’s priorities in an instant.
In my daily devotions recently,1 Pet.5:10 stood out to me. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.” Amen.
Suffering is painful, and the process of healing or restoration is painful as well. In fact, sometimes the recovery work is much more painful than when the pain was originally felt. Just ask all who pay visits to their rehab center where they are trying to rebuild what has been damaged. Rebuilding and restoration are often long, enduring, and painful processes. Restoration and rebuilding our soul takes time just like our damaged physical frames do. The process of healing our soul often includes dealing with our grief, regret, shame, and unforgiveness, to name a few.
Like every human, Peter was no stranger to experience emotional pain. He could write about suffering because he experienced a great deal of it in the course of his life. His instructions provide clarity and comfort to all who are going through pain, if we will listen with a responsive heart. The temptation is so strong to harden our hearts which forbids its healing.
This passage begins with the word “grace.” The God of grace. The definition of this word grace is, “the supernatural influence upon the heart and its reflection seen in the life.” Yes, grace provides the ability for us to endure painful suffering. Grace provides what our natural efforts or best human practices cannot provide because it’s supernatural.
Peter said, “After you have suffered a little while.” Do you mean that God allows suffering? Yes, he does. He uses suffering as an instrument to work his eternal purposes in us. The often-quoted Psalm 23 passage speaks to the journey through the valley of the shadow of death and the battle with fear that one experiences. Notice that traveling through the valley is not the same as taking up residence there. Our suffering has an end and has a purposeful outcome. Going through this dark valley is where fear wants to take hold and then we lose confidence that this valley has no end. We lose hope. Hope deferred makes one sick, but longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Pr.13:12
God spoke through Peter that “he (God) himself will restore you and make you strong and steadfast.” You are not only going to survive this pain, but you will grow in your faith as a result of it. Your trust and confidence in who God is will build through this painful season if you have a responsive heart. The words, strong, firm and steadfast in the Greek refer to the building of a foundation. Everything in life requires a foundation. The stronger the foundation, the healthier everything resting on it is. Our souls need a strong foundation. Our godliness and character rest on this foundation and it is what everyone sees.
Enduring trials is a common topic in scriptures. The patriarchs of the faith all endured physical and emotional trials and sufferings of all kinds. Yet they persevered and were rewarded for their steadfast and resolute trust in Almighty God.
You need to know that there is an end. Heb.12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross, despised the shame and now is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus knows all about suffering and he holds tender mercies for all who are also experiencing emotional pain. Can you imagine the emotional pain when Jesus cried out on the cross, moments before he died, “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Because of his embracing the suffering, we can embrace the grace he provides while healing takes place.
One thing is certain, there is coming a day for every follower of Christ to experience final freedom from pain and suffering.
Rev.21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or morning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
My friend, God’s grace is present to comfort the pain you are experiencing. In the natural we all struggle in trying to find answers for the pain we experience. Please don’t quit, don’t try to numb your pain. Don’t run! Face it, invite the Holy Spirit into what you are feeling and let him come alongside to provide the comfort nothing else or anyone else can.
Healing your broken heart and healing your wounded soul is God’s delight. At the end of the day, there are so many who need someone to care about their pain and walk with them in their healing process. God never wastes any of our painful experiences. To Him be the power for ever and ever!
Soul pain is maybe one of the worst experiences. People do their best to self-medicate to ease their misery but to no avail. You can numb feelings, but the source of pain remains until dealt with. The soul is defined as our mind, will, and our emotions. Emotional pain can be accompanied with physical pain, but not always.
Have you ever noticed in a doctor’s office or counseling office a chart with many different cartoon facial expressions? The varied faces help to identify a person’s pain intensity. Pain can be self-inflicted or other afflicted. In either case, it hurts! C.S. Lewis said, “Pain is a great megaphone to a deaf world.” There are few things that get our attention as pain does, and nothing can distract us faster than pain. Pain can rearrange a person’s priorities in an instant.
In my daily devotions recently,1 Pet.5:10 stood out to me. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.” Amen.
Suffering is painful, and the process of healing or restoration is painful as well. In fact, sometimes the recovery work is much more painful than when the pain was originally felt. Just ask all who pay visits to their rehab center where they are trying to rebuild what has been damaged. Rebuilding and restoration are often long, enduring, and painful processes. Restoration and rebuilding our soul takes time just like our damaged physical frames do. The process of healing our soul often includes dealing with our grief, regret, shame, and unforgiveness, to name a few.
Like every human, Peter was no stranger to experience emotional pain. He could write about suffering because he experienced a great deal of it in the course of his life. His instructions provide clarity and comfort to all who are going through pain, if we will listen with a responsive heart. The temptation is so strong to harden our hearts which forbids its healing.
This passage begins with the word “grace.” The God of grace. The definition of this word grace is, “the supernatural influence upon the heart and its reflection seen in the life.” Yes, grace provides the ability for us to endure painful suffering. Grace provides what our natural efforts or best human practices cannot provide because it’s supernatural.
Peter said, “After you have suffered a little while.” Do you mean that God allows suffering? Yes, he does. He uses suffering as an instrument to work his eternal purposes in us. The often-quoted Psalm 23 passage speaks to the journey through the valley of the shadow of death and the battle with fear that one experiences. Notice that traveling through the valley is not the same as taking up residence there. Our suffering has an end and has a purposeful outcome. Going through this dark valley is where fear wants to take hold and then we lose confidence that this valley has no end. We lose hope. Hope deferred makes one sick, but longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Pr.13:12
God spoke through Peter that “he (God) himself will restore you and make you strong and steadfast.” You are not only going to survive this pain, but you will grow in your faith as a result of it. Your trust and confidence in who God is will build through this painful season if you have a responsive heart. The words, strong, firm and steadfast in the Greek refer to the building of a foundation. Everything in life requires a foundation. The stronger the foundation, the healthier everything resting on it is. Our souls need a strong foundation. Our godliness and character rest on this foundation and it is what everyone sees.
Enduring trials is a common topic in scriptures. The patriarchs of the faith all endured physical and emotional trials and sufferings of all kinds. Yet they persevered and were rewarded for their steadfast and resolute trust in Almighty God.
You need to know that there is an end. Heb.12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross, despised the shame and now is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus knows all about suffering and he holds tender mercies for all who are also experiencing emotional pain. Can you imagine the emotional pain when Jesus cried out on the cross, moments before he died, “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Because of his embracing the suffering, we can embrace the grace he provides while healing takes place.
One thing is certain, there is coming a day for every follower of Christ to experience final freedom from pain and suffering.
Rev.21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or morning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
My friend, God’s grace is present to comfort the pain you are experiencing. In the natural we all struggle in trying to find answers for the pain we experience. Please don’t quit, don’t try to numb your pain. Don’t run! Face it, invite the Holy Spirit into what you are feeling and let him come alongside to provide the comfort nothing else or anyone else can.
Healing your broken heart and healing your wounded soul is God’s delight. At the end of the day, there are so many who need someone to care about their pain and walk with them in their healing process. God never wastes any of our painful experiences. To Him be the power for ever and ever!
Recent
Archive
2024
No Comments