A Hope to Carry You Through Pain

Can you remember a time when you received devastating news? You know, the type of news that takes your breath away? Perhaps at a doctor’s appointment, you were told that you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer or some other terminal illness. Maybe you received a knock at the door to be informed that a loved one had died. Or even something like being called into the boss’ office and told that due to budget cuts you were being laid off. There are times when we hear difficult news that fills our hearts with sorrow. How do you go forward, how do you find hope?

Our hope is found in God’s comfort through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and His plan is being fulfilled for our good, even if we don’t understand it.

 

“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:6–7)

The reality of Jesus leaving the disciples had finally hit and their hearts were filled with sorrow. And yet this pain was necessary to experience a greater good. It was for their advantage, and ours, that Jesus left. Had He not, the whole world, including the disciples, would be lost forever. Another benefit in Him leaving would be the sending of the Holy Spirit. Jesus would go to heaven and be The Advocate (1 John 2:1), while the Holy Spirit would dwell within us.
 
Like the disciples, we don’t always understand the sorrow that God allows us to go through. However, there is one thing that we can trust-God has a plan and it is good because God is good. We may not always understand the plan but God will not leave us alone. He has sent the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter to be with us.
 

In times of sorrow and suffering, meditate on this, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

Pastor Cary Wacker


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