April 13, 2010
 
DEVOTION: Healing Through the Pain
 
By Beth Bondurant
 
Unless one has experienced the loss of a loved one.... the devastation of natural disasters... horrific accidents... sudden deaths ... critical health issues... a black Monday... or numerous other trials and tribulations that come with everyday life, healing through the pain seems senseless.
 
Even in union of marriage... the miracle of child birth... family reunions... graduation... moving into a new home... traveling and seeing the wonder of nature and God's gifts of creation... one may still not understand... healing through the pain.
 
What is the point of so much pain in such an amazing and phenomenal world.
 
When our hope and trust is dashed... when we feel broken and abandoned... how can we heal through the hurt.
 
Sometimes we don't.
 
There isn't a sure plan or systematic procedure for fixing our heart, mind, body and spirit.
 
Indeed there are commentaries and medical libraries filled with information and verification of how one can procure most every possible scenario of healing. Every individual has an idea of what is best... what might help... what one must do... where one might go... even in cases where the odds are overwhelming.
 
"Then taking a deep breath... God breathed into them the Holy Spirit."
 
God empowers in us ... healing through the pain.
 
It might be instantaneous... or it might take hours... days... weeks... months... years.
 
Some scars remain no matter how hard we try to restore perfection.
 
"I will always be with you."
 
God's promise that we are never alone is our redemption. The nearness of goodness and grace enables healing through the pain.
 
We too quickly reenact the Easter story... and "pass over" the torn hearts and bodies of those most closely involved. Such is our temporary patience with the pain of ourselves and others... even those we hold close in fellowship.
 
Even believing, we are still human and like those descriptive words of scripture remind us..."Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it... saving your own skins and abandoning me."
 
"But wait... I am sending God's promise... God's Holy Spirit who will equip you with power from on high."
 
Not one of us has or ever will understand the grievance in our lives... but we know God is here with us and we can expect steadfast healing through the pain.