If you were ever the cause of somebody’s pain and suffering or if you are in pain and suffering, this is for you.
So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:13-19)
It doesn’t take too much to lose heart–failure, anger, mistakes, betrayals, disappointments, etc. I can go on with much detail and specificity, but you get my point. We can probably remember these occasions and situations more vividly than we want to and the memory of it is like a festering wound, it doesn’t bleed all the time, but one more small friction against it and it’s gushing blood or shooting with pain. The Apostle Paul writes this passage as an encouragement to people whose wounds still fester and hurt. Regardless of how fresh or old those wounds may be, the remedy is all the same: come before God truthfully will ALWAYS lead to strength and grace to face whatever it is that you are facing and understand why you had and are going through this. Moreover, while those reasons may not make any sense, there will be an overwhelming peace stemming from Christ’s love that fills those voids caused by your wounds. Be encouraged. There is hope for you and me in our pain and agony. God will bring to fruition that hope through overwhelming love, an unconditionally powerful and intentional act of selfless sacrifice to give you grace for the moments. Look forward to it, be healed in your suffering.
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