Are You Hurting?

ARE YOU HURTING?

Today, I am.

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year,
but also one of the hardest.
The moment that first chill is in the air, the leaves begin to fall and their colors light up the world,
my thoughts go to my mom.

Even though it has been 17 years,
the pain of that day is very present.
Somehow my heart still wants to rewind and pretend it never happened.

I can remember this very week in October like it was yesterday. We were in the middle of a huge house renovation. One that I had desperately wanted, but one that was taking its toll on me.
I didn’t think I could handle much more, but I tried to make the best of it.

Little children were ringing our doorbell~
smiles and candy were given freely~
but deep down I just wanted to call my mom and pour my heart out.
I needed the comforting words I knew she would speak~
but I never got to hear them again.

Without warning~
three days later she was gone.

When I think about the phone call from my dad that morning, my heart almost feels as if it’s suffocating.

People often ask~Why does God allow us to have beauty in our lives, only to take it away?

Sweet friend, God doesn’t allow us pain so that we can somehow be bullied into serving Him.

Pain was never a part of God’s plan.

The brokeness of this world as a result of sin is what causes pain.
It causes heartache.
It causes the tears to flow.

God never expects us to go without crying. He knows the heartbreak of pain because~
God Himself came down to earth and experienced all these things.

The difference in His suffering was that Jesus did it FOR me.

He did it FOR you.

So when you find the tears falling uncontrollably and you feel alone in your pain, please realize~

you are never, ever alone.

Jesus love for you was so great that he willingly CHOSE to experience the same things you are going through at this very moment.

The King of Kings came to earth for me. He knew what He would be facing here on earth. He knew what His physical body would have to endure. He knew the heartache and brokenness that sin has ravished on our world.

He knew the end~
but He chose to come so that you could have a beginning.

A new life.

Imagine having the choice to say no to the pain and heartache you are going through right now.

I would never choose the pain. But He did.

When I think of the level of heartache I have been through, I can’t imagine choosing to purposely go through that for anyone.
There were times It almost broke me.

But He did it for me. And He did it for you.

So let the tears flow.
God expects nothing less~
but never forget He is right there with you, holding you.

He understands.
He wept those same tears.

All because of a love that we can never fully comprehend. Allow that love to bring you comfort today.

God incarnate took your pain upon Himself. He lived and breathed it and then He nailed it to the cross.
The very words~”It is finished” are the comforting words your soul needs to hear.

No, you are never alone no matter how hard the pain is.

I’m with you.
And so is He.


John 1:14
John 3:16
John 11:33-36
Hebrews 4:15,16
Luke 19:41,42
Psalm 34:18