The pain drags you into a black hole of despair. It seems like there is no escape, that life will never be good ever again. It sucks the life out of you, drains you of energy. You can’t even find the strength to get out of bed any more. There’s no point anyway. God where are you? Are you punishing me for something? What have I done to deserve this?
The pain can come from many things. Sickness of the body, sickness of the mind, a friend who has betrayed you, a spouse that has abused you, even a child who defies you and refuses to make decisions that will bring her the bright future you want for her. The financial pain of not having the money for the necessities of life for you and your dependants.
Pain is inescapable in this world. We all experience it in one way or another. What is the point of it? Are we simply put here to feel pain throughout our days and then go to the grave in misery? Or is there a greater purpose? Can beauty come out of pain?
In this picture there are two very different pieces of wood. The top one is a cabinet door which I am refinishing for a client. It is made from #1 grade maple. From a tree which had ideal growing conditions. There are no knots or flaws. It is perfect.
The bottom piece is going to be a new coffee bar for my house. It is made from a piece of Douglass fir which grew under harsh conditions in the Canadian Rockies. It is full of knots and imperfections, some of which I have inlaid turquoise. Which piece is more beautiful? I think the bottom one.
God doesn’t bring us pain. Pain is the result of living in the system of sin we are all born into. We were made to be dependant on God, living in the flow of perfect love. When we resist that flow of love, when we do not receive God’s love, when we do not love others with our actions, we bring pain on ourselves an those around us.
God is a craftsman, a true artist who is able to take imperfect lives, wounded and broken from pain and make them beautiful. I’m learning to trust God more and more as I see the results of painful things in my life. I can start to see the artwork He is creating with it. I am able to understand and help others who are going through the hard things I’ve experienced. There is still some pain which I do not yet see how it will be made beautiful, but I trust the divine artist that some day He will indeed turn my pain into beauty. Thank you Jesus!
Beautifully expressed. Thank you.
Thank you Sue!