Deep Pain; Deeper Peace

My heart hurts. And yet it also has peace. It is so torn by what seems to be two completely opposite things, and yet maybe they kind of go together. Loss; death; grief; hurt; pain; suffering.. it surrounds us. My heart hurts for the ones I've lost that I love; I grieve, too, for the families they left behind who miss them so much more than I ever could. And yet the Bible says, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” At times, this has kind of seemed like a – for lack of a better word – harsh verse. How can you tell someone they are blessed when they are hurting so badly?? Suffering such great loss?

However, I think maybe I’m beginning to understand a little:

I hate pain because it hurts. But.. in the pain, I can find comfort, peace, and joy that I can find nowhere else. I cannot love pain. But I do love my Jesus. And I believe He can work profoundly in the midst of our deepest pain. Does a hug not mean a little bit more when it is received in the midst of pain? Does encouragement not seem greater when we’re struggling with discouragement? So I have found in my relationship with The Lord: my trust in Him finds new depth when going through trials; my prayers become more fervent in situations that I feel a greater need for direction and understanding; my love grows as I recognize more of who He is.. And when the pain runs deep [real deep], His comfort and peace go deeper still. There is no peace like that which we find in the middle of heartache; in places we know that we shouldn't be able to. Yet we can; we do. ~ It’s a peace that passes all understanding. And it guards our hearts and our minds. Forever. 

If you don't know this Jesus I'm talking about, or have never experienced the depth of peace that can only come from God, I would love to talk with you. I so desperately want you to know Him! I can listen, pray for, or share with you.. And would be more than happy to. I'm just a message/phone call away :)