The Hope Is Greater Than The Pain

The pain is excruciating.

Coursing through every part of the body. Wracked in agony and convulsing with the reverberations that appear to be unending. If that’s not bad enough, there’s the emotional and psychological trauma of it. This is unrelenting. Sleep is so scarce that it becomes more desired than great wealth. Every effort to discover respite seems inadequate. It would be so much easier to give up and give in. Throw in the towel now and accept that this has got the better of things on this occasion.

Up ahead, however, there is a destination that beckons. It is truly glorious. It is truly amazing. It is truly marvellous. And whatever you’ve heard about it, there’s the promise – the guarantee – that the actual experience is far better than what has been uttered, what has been written, what can be visualised or imagined. It is far greater. It gleams in front of you tantalisingly near and yet frustratingly far.

The gap between the pain and the destination is bridged by the presence of the one who has experienced a pain far greater and now enjoys the reality of that destination. This one is the one who rules this place ahead and gives indications of what that looks like even in the pain. And as He has endured, He doesn’t stay far away and leave you lonely. He is present with you. He is with you in the suffering. He cries as you cry. He hears as you call out for some sort of relief.

He is there with you. He sits with you as the journey appears challenging and a strain. And He gives you the ability to endure. He gives you the motivation to persevere. He gives you that urge to take one more step. He supplies supporters in different guises and at different times to hold you up and bear your pain. He does this and even gives you the power in your brokenness to even support someone else on the journey through their suffering.

His word is true. His promises are real. He is faithful and trustworthy. What He says happens. And through the pain and the suffering, you can appreciate His character more and see that relying on that character and exhibiting it by His power is the only one to make it through.

It’s the only way to make it through, for the hope remains greater than the pain.

(Photo by Tyler Lastovich on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden