Becoming His

When It Just Hurts

written by: Carissa Waggoner

Have you ever been faced with a time that someone you loved and trusted hurt you? I’m sure you have, we are all products of our sinful natures. There are bound to be times when someone betrays our trust, leaves us or says unkind and hurtful words to us. If we are honest with ourselves, we’ve probably done these things too.

So, What do we do when it just hurts?
When the internal pain shallows our breathing, and the thought of another day just seems like a curse rather than a blessing, what do we do?

There are so many ways that we can try, but all of those lead to more emptiness, a loss of identity, loss of self worth, guilt, and shame to contend with. They are band aids at best. Sometimes, in our desperateness to stop the pain, even for a moment, we may chose the enemy’s quick all, fake prescription to pain relief.

What is difficult to see in the middle of our suffering is that God has something better. God grieves with us, while satan delights in our suffering.

John 11:33
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

God doesn’t want to band aid our pain. He wants to get at the root of it. He wants to teach us that no matter what someone we love says about us or how they treated us, it does not speak into our worth or identity.

Psalm 147:3
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

God created with all sovereignty and authority the Heavens and the Earth. He created you specifically, and individually as well. He formed you in your mothers womb meticulously, with love and much thought.

Psalm 139: 13-14
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

You see, God is the only one that has the authority to define your worth and identity. You are not the sum of other peoples words or treatment of you. God says you are worth dying for. He says your identity is belonging to and being loved greatly by the One who created you just the way you are.

Even in our pain and suffering we can be right in the middle of God’s will. I know that may sound mean, but I assure you, God loves you so much that He wants to address that pain, heal it, teach you something through it, draw you closer to Him, and strengthen you by it.

2 Corinthians 4:17
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

It’s not a quick fix, I’m sorry to tell you. I know, I’ve even recently been there and in some ways am still there. I find refuge in Jesus.

Take heart though, that by deciding to rely on the courage the Holy Spirit gives you, with determination walk through the pain and not try to avoid it, but to face it head on. The other side is sweet to the soul.

Psalm 5:11
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

There will be a few things you will be able to look back on and see.

  • You will get to know God more
  • You will experience how faithful, gently, and kind He is
  • You will be assured of how much he loves and cares for you
  • You will have a strength that comes from the confidence of that assurance
  • You will be more aware of yourself
  • You will be more discerning of when the enemy is closing in
  • You will have a deeper faith, hope and trust
  • You will not fear tomorrow, because the One who carried you through today holds tomorrow in His hands.

In times/seasons of extreme pain, I have imagined myself holding desperately, so tightly to the hem of Jesus’ robe. Holding on for dear life. I forget, that I am not the only one holding on. Jesus is holding onto me. I get so exhausted holding on that at times I just have to let go and just be held.

A song sung by Casting Crowns called “Just Be Held” helped me to see that sometimes, I just need to be in quietness, surrendered and just be held.

It’s not always easy to just let go and allow God the time and your surrender. I can, however, assure you that it is worth it.

God has something better than just a band aid, for when it just hurts.

Prayer

God, your mercies are overflowing. Your compassion for us when our pain is paralyzing is beauty to our souls. Thank you, Lord, for being patient, kind and gentle when we are hurting. Thank you for loving us so much that you want us to have true healing and not just a temporary band aid. Thank you for holding onto us when our strength has left us. Thank you for being the only authority in our life that defines our worth and identity as belonging to you. The lessons you teach us are sweet to our soul and give us hope in a future. You drawing us closer shows us of your faithfulness and increases our faith. All because you care for us we can put our trust in you. We surrender all our pain into your loving hands. Guide us straight through the pain to the gloriousness of the other side. In our hurt, we find there is beauty. The beauty of your unwavering love. Thank you Jesus! We are yours. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!

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