Are you going through a hard time? It seems like most everyone I’ve talked to lately is in the middle of some sort of tragic or difficult time.
And that involves pain and weariness.
Sometimes life hurts. The pain of losing someone either by death or lifestyle, the pain of broken relationships, physical pain — it all hurts. I believe at times the suffering we experience can be more profound within us than outside of us. Our heart can only take so much agony.
As I’m praying for my friends and family I recall a few years ago a dark time in my life. I had broken my left wrist, however, a cast didn’t hold it in place well enough to heal so a metal plate was surgically screwed to my bone. Weeks of casting failure then surgery was followed by months (and years) of recovery.
Being an extremely active person (my son calls me an “outside mom”), I was devastated by my restrictive situation. No more biking, running, swimming, surfing, or playing the piano (which I had done for almost 40 years). The painkiller meds I took for the excruciating throbbing in my wrist didn’t affect the anguish and misery I was feeling psychologically. Would I ever be able to do any of these things again? My mind went into the negative. It was a very dark time in my life.
But now three years later I am able to do just about anything I want to. My left pinkie is still a bit crooked and I can’t completely lay my hand flat, but I’m again as active as ever (though quite cautious if there’s a chance to fall). Life is good. God is good. He got me through it.
So what could I possibly say to encourage those of you, dear readers, who are in the depths of those dark and painful times of trials and suffering? Wait.
Isaiah 40: 30-31 — Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Wait on Him. Sit in His presence and let Him comfort you. Pour out your heart before Him. Take the time. He’s a great listener. He will strengthen you. He will cause you to endure.
Please don’t go it alone, my friend. Sometimes in the midst of our pain words fail us and it’s difficult to communicate with others the grief we’re feeling. It’s okay, they won’t always get it. But God understands. He’s been there, done that. Wait on Him and in due time you, too, will be able to soar as an eagle.