Finding Light in the Darkness

This is for the one who has lost a loved one. This is for the one who unexpectedly got diagnosed with a life threatening disease. This is for the one with a broken heart. This is for the one who spends night after night in tears. This is for the one who has been rejected, battered, and bruised by countless people. This is for the hurting and the broken. This is for YOU.

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Though I've been through some things that I would never wish upon someone else, I know that somewhere out there there is someone that is going through something similar or even something far worse than I've ever had to deal with.

I wish I could sit here and tell you that I understand your pains when you're hurting and when you feel that you're trapped in the darkness. I wish I could listen to your story of brokenness and tell you that I've been through it and in return help you every step of the way... but I can't do that. However, I can tell you that I know someone who can.

His name is Jesus. 

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When we are left hurting and broken it seems like no one can ever understand our pain. It doesn't matter if they have been through the same things or even claim to understand it, we know deep down that our feelings are really never the same as someone else's. That always seems to be true even when it comes to the most caring people we know and our best of friends; they just don't get it like we do.

That's not true of Jesus.

Believe me when I tell you this; He gets it. 

People always seem to try and comfort me by saying, "Well Jesus walked the same road you're walking. He had it just as hard, and He suffered too." Well to be honest, I don't find that comforting at all in spite of the truth of it. However, what I do find to be comforting is knowing that Jesus suffered for me and died in my place. He didn't end there though; He rose again, and He made a way to end all of my pains, heartaches, and sufferings eternally. He suffered for me, and He saved me through each of His sufferings. And each day as I choose to follow Him, even in the midst of heartache, pain, and brokenness, I become united to the greatest victory ever won, and I grow closer to the one who defeated suffering once and for all. That's where I find my comfort, and you can too.

We hurt here on earth when life just doesn't seem fair, when we lose someone we love, or when we get an unexpected heartbreak; but that hurt is not eternal. It will end. Some pains last longer than others, and some may never end while we are still here. However, our pains will not last for eternity.

Christ went before us and made us a path. He has already shown us the way to see the light and to find joy in the darkness. So take the time to acknowledge your pain, and then let God shape you through it. The things of this world may hurt your heart and crush your spirit, but God restores, supports, and strengthens us through them (1 Peter 5:10).

Nothing here on earth lasts forever, not even your pains; but God's work in you through your pain, that does.