But the pain that cuts deeper than any other is when I know someone I love is hurting. That brings a sadness that sweeps over me, shutting out all other thought, making it almost impossible to function at times.
Why do we feel so deeply for others? It has to be because we are made in the image of Christ--who feels every hurt, every sadness, every pain--physical, mental, emotional. If we didn't have this ability to sorrow with the hurting--we would never grow into individuals that He calls us to be. I'm not claiming that I am minutely close to having the compassion and love that Christ has toward us. He's done nothing to ever hurt us, on the contrary--He offers the remedy to all of life's ills and transgressions. And, yet, He hurts when we hurt. He took the pain and shame of the cross and took on everything for us. And still, He hurts when we hurt--even though He's the remedy and never the cause for that hurt. We, on the other hand, hurt one another all the time.
My prayer is, Lord help me to be more like you, help me to show your love and compassion. Give me wisdom and direction so I will never hurt others--because I cannot the bear the pain of knowing someone else is hurting because of me, because of my actions, words, or deeds. I know, I have been guilty in the past of causing others hurt because of foolishness, selfishness, or just plain stupidity.
And, thank you, Jesus, for carrying the burdens that are more than I can carry. Heal the hurting as only your can! If you are hurting, or have caused others to hurt--look unto Jesus--He feels all the pain and He is a healer of every hurt!
"Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; ...He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;..." Isaiah 53:4-5
So many times I've wished to take my needle and thread to sew the wounds of a loved one closed. And yet God does that for us when we ask ... most often without asking.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen, for that insightful comment. Yes, Jesus is the only one who can heal each and every hurt--even the worse hurts of all.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I do believe we are emotional twins. I totally get what you're saying! I think it's why God has us writing the things we write, because we have that gift of empathy. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad I'm not alone in struggling with this kind of pain.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Linnette. Truthfully, sometimes I wish I didn't "feel" the pain of others so much--but then I'm reminded of what our Savior bore for me!
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