“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to and end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” – Lamentations 3:19-24
Hurt and hope – they can coexist.
Affliction and healing – they can be present simultaneously.
How?
Because as Christians, we reside in a fallen world but our citizenship is in Heaven. Both are real, and neither can cancel the other out. This conundrum is something I have yet to completely understand, but it is a truth I am beginning to unpack. It is the reason I can feel the sting of unloving words and actions, yet take comfort in my Savior’s love. It is the reason I can feel the letdown of crushed hopes and dreams, and have peace in God’s plan for my life. It is the reason I can feel the ache of loss, yet rejoice in hope of the future reunion. The battle rages on, even as we anticipate the final victory.
The writer of Lamentations has obviously experienced deep pain, and they fully acknowledge it. They call it out, bringing specific details into the light. What an overwhelming task this is. The uncharted waters of pain and trauma are intimidating to navigate. The pain, the sorrow, the bitter disappointment – it’s all real and messy, and pretending otherwise is wrong because it is a part of the story God has written for us. The damage is done, the mess has been made. Healing will never come unless we acknowledge and identify the wounds, then take appropriate steps towards healing.
The next step, according to these verses, is to remember that there is more to the story. I can confidently say that this is far from easy, but it is doable, and it is worth it. In the moments of pain when there seems to be nothing else beyond the consuming agony, I must also remember and hold tight to God’s promises. He promises to never leave us, and He promises that He has good things in story for us. There is no limit to God’s grace and goodness – what a wonderful concept to ponder!
There is a difference between allowing my pain to shape and define me, and surrendering it to God and allowing Him to use it. When I hold my pain close and find my identity in it, I will only be destroyed from the inside out. I must choose to trust that God is writing my story, and that He has good things in store for me. This God I serve can take my brokenness and transform it into something beautiful. I must decide if I will drift away from Jesus, or pull towards Him. The times I have asked Him to hold me in the pain were the most beautiful and healing times of my life. The pain remains, but there with it lives peace. The pain remains, and somehow it doesn’t seem so meaningless.
Proclaiming His Goodness 