Hurting

"Okay, I'm Hurting Lord"

October 29, 2003

I sit quietly in our home thinking of the past mistakes and wonder, how did we get here, how did I get here? Yes, Lord I am hurting and feel very abandoned. I notice the wind is whipping hard against our roof and windows. My house is silent except for the wind and Lord I realize you are the One who knows from whither it comes and goes. But I don’t know how life really works at times. I question the reality of whether you know I am hurting deep within my soul.
Did you call me last night in the stillness of the night where I cried out to you for my family? Are you the One who woke me up every hour so I could learn to cry upon you? Did I really comprehend why my heart was prompted to utter words up to you? Lord, I am hurting and I call upon you to comfort me.

We all have these moments when we wonder if God really understands our hurting hearts. We all question if He hears our cries. What is faith if we aren’t given opportunities to fully comprehend its meaning? Ever wonder how we grow in faith if we didn’t visit the road of loneliness and trials?

Many times we try to lean on our own understanding and spend countless hours trying in our own steam to master problems too big for us. Yes, our Lord’s job description is “the One who turns impossible messes into glorious eternal realities.” You wonder right this minute, how can God take my hurting heart and make positive out of it.

The truth be known is that He is at work during our darkest hours. When the storms, winds, and waters seem to encompass us we need to learn to reach for the Master who calms all the storms of life. Yes, the one who walked on water and calmed the sea.

Life is so much like our oceans today, one minute calm and the next minute ready to sink the biggest ship. Remember when Jesus calmed the sea in Mark 4:39-40 “And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

How powerful are Jesus’ own words, ye of little faith. And we shrivel into nothingness when the wind blows and the waters of life seem to overcome us and we cry out don’t you know I am hurting Lord?

We forget He is right in this boat of life with us. He has not forsaken us but wants us to come to the point where we turn our storms of life over to Him completely and then He can apply the wonderful ointment of peace in our souls.

Ephesians 6:16 we are told: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Yes, the wonderful armour of God that does protect us from discouragement, anxiety, and fear. The devil our adversary is always trying to pierce the very armour God made to protect us. I encourage you to put it on before you rise out of your bed. Keep it on throughout your day and see how you can walk in peace no matter what is hurled at you.

Yes, sweet peace…Peace from fear, worry, anxiety, aloneness…Sweet peace found in Jesus Christ.