“Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out Your hand, and the power of Your right hand saves Me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life – for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.” (Psalm 138:7-8 NLT)
Pain can come from many sources. I can stub my toe, have surgery, experience a loss, or drift from God. What do you do when you’re in pain? What’s your “knee-jerk” reaction when pain strikes? And here’s an irony of pain – it doesn’t have to be our own. For many of us when a loved one is hurting or experiencing challenging circumstances, it breaks our heart and, too often, crushes our spirit.
“Where is God in my/our suffering?” is often the cry of our heart and mind. Why is it when we need God most, He seems so far away? Ray Majoran addresses this issue in his prayer from “Preserved and Protected 05-29-25). Please read carefully. “God of unfailing love, we bless You for the mercy that holds us when everything else falls apart. You are not far off or watching from a distance — You are near to the broken and the overlooked, near to the ones whose stories have been forgotten by everyone but You (Psalm 34:18). You hem us in behind and before, and even in the depths of trouble, You stretch out Your hand and draw a line the enemy cannot cross (Psalm 139:5). You preserve what You have purposed; thank You for making us part of that plan.
Many of our friends and family (and perhaps even we ourselves) are walking through fire — things that keep us awake long into the night. Some are wrestling with shame from past decisions; others feel like they’ve out-sinned grace. But Your Word says that You will not lose even one of those You’ve given to the Son (John 6:39). We simply need to trust and believe in Him (John 3:16).
And so we trust You — not just with our days, but with our pain. You have not forgotten us; You will finish what You started. Keep us grounded in the truth that You are enough, for we are preserved and protected in Your love.”
Don’t you love that – “Keep us grounded in the truth that You are enough, for we are preserved and protected in Your love.” Trust grows out of truth and Jesus IS Truth! Our pain and suffering can dull us to the warmth of our Savior’s presence when, in fact, He’s closer than the air we breathe. Suffering can insulate us from the very One who most desires to comfort, preserve, and protect us.
Please don’t allow your emotions to keep you from what your mind knows is true – the Lord loves you, is with you, and will make a way for your where there seems to be no way. Trust Him! Express to Him how you feel and allow Him to comfort, strengthen, and walk with you through these difficult days. Find a believing friend who loves Jesus and loves you who will gladly listen to you and pray with and for you.
Each of us has days and seasons of darkness that seem to close in on us, some because of sickness or accidents, but at other times for no apparent reason. Embrace these times as an opportunity to see the Lord more clearly and sense His closeness more personally. It’s in these times our trust can be deepened and our love for our Savior can grow.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 