Skip to main content

The Peace of Pain

I was all wrapped up in my thoughts that morning as I gazed at the  beauty of the colored trees.  The cold nights have certainly contributed to their deeper, richer hues of amber, gold, and crimson.  The wind seemed to sneak up on me, in a sort of hide and seek game, but I didn't mind.  No, I was focused on the peace my heart had found over the past few months.  As I was pondering that very thought, I started running down the path toward home.  All of a sudden, a gust of wind shot a round seed ball directly under my foot.  Instant pain grabbed my foot and ankle as I wobbled and bobbled.  Oh, here we go again!  Pain, trial, suffering!  I had to almost laugh, although inwardly crying from the pain, I was outwardly visibly wincing.  I had to get home, so I relished the fact that I didn't fall, the ankle hadn't ballooned instantly, and though it throbbed with terrible pain, I still could walk.  Isn't this exactly what I've learned these past few months?  Peace seems to come through pain . . .

Perhaps, our Savior knew that for us to get the paradox of life, He had to come into our world.  If he hadn't embraced pain with us, would we have found relief? Left to our own devices when dealing with the unfairness, injustice and hardship of life, we can become stressed out, anxious, angry, bitter and resentful.  But when our focus rests on Him and not our circumstances, a peace pervades the soul.  I really can't explain it, except to say, you find that you can walk, even run with a wounded foot . . . 


Today, I have a grateful heart for Jesus who gave me life, a chance to live on earth for a certain allotment of days.  In giving me that opportunity, He has allowed me to experience the darker, deeper hues of life that though they've brought me tears of pain, I've found such peace within.  My peace has been that with my pain, He's brought me grace . . .


"For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace." (John 1:16)















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easter Production

Driving down the freeway, the large billboard caught my eye.  "Join us for our Easter Production,"  it beckoned with splashy brown and orange colors.  It made me think, yes, that's what the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been reduced to. . . a man made production.  Even this very day we celebrate, the headlines are all about the celebrities that attract the biggest Easter crowd.  E.G. "Tim Tebow draws thousands to Texas Easter service."  Once again, I had to think . . . who is Easter really about?  What happened to "Jesus draws a crowd?" I have grown tired of celebrity worship.  Yet, it seems in America that is what most Christians are interested in. We flock to mega churches, we drink in videos and studies all geared to keep us simple minded and complacent.  No longer is theology a priority to be taught.  No, it's better to read through the Bible in a year by reading only 5 minutes a day.  Never mind, contemplating or discuss...
Post a Comment
Read more

Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind

   " Put yourself in the path that God will work." (Pastor Martin Smith, 1/2024)  On a crisp, clear Saturday morning, I started up the hill with Gypsy Rose eagerly leading the way.  I was more caught up in the fresh air feeling that was invigorating, than paying attention to the few cars that passed us by.  But there up ahead, a small red truck had slowed to the curb to flag me down.  "Could I help him find his son's house?" He was an older gentleman with his phone in hand.  He couldn't reach his son because the calls only went to voicemail, and he didn't have his address, only that it was somewhere here in Rancho.  I googled his son for him, but unfortunately, it only brought up an older address which was the current address now for this man.  There was no updated address for Rancho Cucamonga.  I told him the bad news, but he was so very gracious.  He did everything to show me that he was for real, pulling out  his driver lice...
Post a Comment
Read more

Awe

  The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise.  The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window.  I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets.  Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky.  But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me.  The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme.  I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear.  Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect.  It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....
Post a Comment
Read more