In C.S. Lewis’s book, The Problem of Pain he writes, “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Pain and suffering are an inherent part of the human experience-our very existence begin through our mother’s tremendous and excruciating pain.

Pain quite literally births life, the metaphor here is apparent. There is meaning in suffering. It’s an intrinsic part of who we are. Instead of being surprised by pain, perhaps we should be surprised by joy. God did not even spare His own begotten son the affliction of this world. Instead, He sent Jesus Christ directly into a hurting and broken world to suffer alongside sinners and eventually die because of us. Jesus suffers alongside the brokenhearted. One of the greatest mysteries is that God became incarnate to become intimate with grief.

Christ’s first experience with pain wasn’t on the cross, it was the essence and the entirety of His ministry.

Holy God walks directly into the heart of misery. Jesus is relational. He knows. He sees. He cares. He loves.  Christ’s first experience with pain wasn’t on the cross, it was the essence and the entirety of His ministry. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, yet behind two words hides deep theological meaning, “Jesus wept.” Why did He weep? For the same reason that Jesus grieved, laughed, mourned, and knocked over tables; because He experienced the whole spectrum of human emotions- including profound pain. Jesus wept because quite frankly, there is a lot to weep about. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t push us away when we cry out, instead, He turns to find us among the crowd when we touch the hem of His robe.

So take courage my dear heart because you are known, seen, and loved by your Maker.

“There’s much more to life than we’ve been told. It’s full of beauty that will unfold. And shine like you struck gold, my wayward son. That deadweight burden weighs a ton. Go down to the river and let it run. And wash away all the things you’ve done. Forgiveness. Farther along we’ll know all about it. Farther along we’ll understand why. So cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine. All by and by”

(Further Along, Josh Garrels).