THE PAIN . . . THE PAIN . . . THE PAIN . . . of my circumstances was all I could focus on. The pain of it all just seemed too great to bear, too hard to carry, and so heavy that I couldn’t breathe.
“God, if you could just make the pain go away, if you could just give me a few days of not being bombarded with another issue, a few moments of not being pulled in a million directions… Just a day or two of no tears from this sorrow I feel. God can you just make it all go away, please, now! This thing is consuming me! Day in and day out I think about it. It is the topic of most of my conversations, I lay down with it on my heart at night, and wake with it being the first thing on my mind . . . I am losing it. Don’t you see me buckling under the pressure? If one more thing happens, I am going to break . . .”
I said all of those things one morning while trying to pray. My mind was so distracted from everything that was going on, I just couldn’t seem to get it together enough to talk to God or even hear from God. I knew my answer was in His presence, so I lifted my hands and turned my pain into worship. During this worship, Calvary was laid on my heart. I realized that I owed God my worship. You see, long before there was a me or you, there was a place called Calvary. The Lord allowed His only Son to die that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus hung His head and died so that we could have a Savior: so that the shedding of his blood would be the ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. An abundant life only begins with salvation…so it wasn’t enough for Him to die; He defeated death, hell, and the grave and rose with all power in His hands so we could be victorious. When he rose, He promised not to leave us alone.
John 14:15-17 (King James Version)
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I got up off my knees and began to walk and talk with my hands still raised because I needed to totally surrender to the power of the Holy Ghost. I declared that I would have life more abundantly, abundance in all areas of my life, including an abundance of peace. And just as the word of God declares, the Holy Spirit within began to comfort me. Comfort does not mean that a situation is instantly fixed, but that you find refuge in God’s Word: in His promises…in His secret place.
Psalm 91:1-3
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Today, speak God’s Word to your pain instead of allowing your pain to speak to you.
Bless you for the transparency that allows you to speak to others who may be hurting and unaware that God has already called them victorious and free. Thank you.