One of my best friend’s son has recently been in the hospital for several weeks. It has been heartbreaking to see their family walk through so much pain and uncertainty. In moments like those, when the weight of our struggles feels overwhelming, I find myself praying. I pray for the Lord to help us see that suffering, while deeply painful, is never without meaning. Equally important, we are never beyond the reach of our Great Comforter.
A quote (often attributed to Augustine of Hippo) comes to mind: “God had one Son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.”
As heavy as a thought that is, it overwhelms my heart with the love of God. It proclaims not only that the Lord Jesus was perfect, sinless, and holy. But He also willingly entered into the reality of our human suffering. It testifies that Jesus was willing to be tempted, tried, and suffered for us. Because of that, we know our lives really matter to our Great God!
Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” and Hebrews 4:15 tells us that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
These truths often bring me comfort as I walk through my grief. Additionally, they speak as I witness my friend and his family’s pain.
You Are Not Alone
I am sure that Jesus is never just a bystander to our trials. He doesn’t avoid or dismiss them. Instead, the Lord fully enters into them because He is the Great Comforter. Furthermore, God’s Word tells us that Jesus not only comes into our suffering but also redeems it. He sees every tear, feeling of hopelessness, and unanswered question. And He promises that none of it is meaningless.
Here’s the hope we have: Jesus suffered not only to save us but to show us that He is a God who truly cares. With this in mind, His suffering gives meaning to our pain, reminding us that He is at work, even when we can’t see it.
So, on the good days (and when it feels like the whole world is crushing down upon your shoulders), may this lift you up. You are not alone. The Suffering Servant draws you near to Him and says, “Come to me.”
He always understands every trial and temptation. And ultimately Jesus sees every tear and hears each prayer. Above all, He promises to guide you through it all.
May the God of Comfort strengthen you today and in the days ahead.
Posted in A Word from the Pastor