Where Does It Hurt?

  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”              Revelation 21:4

 

The room was filling with Moms, Grandmas, sisters, children, nurses, school teachers, and a variety of other professions.  Each one seemed happy to be there.

If you had just walked by you would have heard the chatter and seen the warm greetings and happy anticipation of a good weekend to come. They were looking forward to the teaching, the fellowship, the games, and conversations.

As the weekend progressed what was revealed was the pain.  So much of it caused by the sin of another against them that they are left to live with. There was much teaching from the scriptures but one of the loudest messages was, “the truth will set you free.”  These women started speaking the truth.

One had been hurt in a situation where there was sin from leaders in a previous church home. Some were molested or repeatedly raped as children or young women and had never told anyone. Some, betrayed by close friends, were leery of talking to anyone else for fear the same thing would happen again. Some were grieving from the recent loss of someone near and dear to them (I could feel their pain, personally).  All of them are children of God.

The most surprising thing to listen to was how busy, productive, and even successful some of these women are. They have hidden their pain for a long time and have learned to function around it. Some were already friends and had some inkling of the other’s pain but for the most part they had been showing up at church every week and not discussing it. Not in the hallways, not in their small groups, and not with their Sunday School classes.

I have a friend on Facebook who goes to a church that sounds like it has a group for many people with different kinds of pain. She talks about divorce care, grief share, and even meals for the homeless or hungry.  Her church acknowledges at least some of the needs of their congregation. The church I taught for at this retreat was aware the pain was there and chose the topic for their retreat in an effort to minister to those in pain.  Kudos to them!

Obviously, no church can address all of the pains in every person at once. But, as I was listening to the ladies give their testimonies on Sunday morning it made me wonder what kind of pain is disguised in my own church on Sunday morning. Am I taking time to listen when someone else needs to talk? Am I aware that a lady’s countenance has changed, does she look happy or sad? Am I willing to stop and pray for someone in the moment?

I saw a lot of that between these women as they talked and wept together.

There is plenty of Biblical support for learning what’s happening in the lives of our sisters in the Lord. Consider these two:             Romans 12:10  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. And, 2 Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Everyone benefits when we minister to one another. The love of God and peace, gifts many hurting people question.

Who is sitting in the pews of our churches on Sunday mornings who is living in pain? Will you take the time to love them by listening? Most likely their pain is not something you can fix, but you can help. The truth will begin a path that they can walk that will set them free. They need a safe person and a safe place to tell their story.

Do you love the Lord and His people? Are you able to keep a confidence?  Do you believe that the Bible is the “Balm of Gilead”, sufficient to give the wisdom necessary for healing? And, is your faith in the truth that the  “TRUTH”, Jesus  Christ,  is the great Physician who will heal all those who turn to Him in their time of need, and set them free from the pain?

Look around this Sunday. The one who needs you to listen is near.

If you are the one needing to speak the truth, look around, the One who will listen is also very near.  Ask Him who you should tell.

 

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.