Few things get our attention like Pain, sometimes it comes as a warning that we are close to being hurt like when you feel heat and pull your hand back, other times it is deep and intense like when you unexpectly fall and it takes a long time to recover. The psalmist David writes these words in Psalm 38:17 “For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.”
Jesus said “In this world there will be trouble……but don’t fear I have over come the world.”
Pain is a very real part of this life and it is impossable to avoid. Today I want to look at some common responses to loss, first what not to do.
1. Ignore the pain. Some people try to push it down or tough it out.
2. Blame others. It’s so and so’s fault, mom, dad, God, me
3. Withdraw. Check out, disengage, build a wall, hide behind drugs and alcohol.
these are never good response’s. King David has been called a man after God’s own heart, yet he missed it big time on several occasions. One of the times he was caught in sin, he sets an example for healing from the pain of loss in the story found in the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel chapter 12.
After an affair and murder David comes to his senses and confesses “I have sinned” and from that point in the story is where we learn how to heal from loss.
1. Face it honestly. 2 samuel 19
2. Instead of blaming, I will trust God.
3. Instead of withdrawing, I will share my pain. 2 Samuel 12:24
Paul writes to the church “Carry each other’s burdens”, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Sometimes we don’t understand it or agree with it, but it still hurts deeply and with as much love as I can muster I would say to you don’t miss an oppertunity to trust God with your pain because He is really the only one who will understand fully, and thats the way I see it in my market.