Amidst the Hurting

Our world is in pain. Our world has always been in pain. You don't have to look very far to find someone who is hurting.

This is a photo of my youngest grandchild. At the moment I snapped this picture, she was hurting. Less than five minutes later she was laughing. Someone came along and listened to her, assessed her needs and saw that she was cared for. She was held, cuddled, and fed. God put her in a family that will do everything in their power to love her, protect her, and nurture her.

Not everyone has that blessing. Many hurting people suffer in solitude, never knowing what it’s like to be cared for or even noticed. The magnitude of the never-ending hurt in this world is overwhelming at times. It's so easy to think we can't make a difference. It's so easy to give up and do nothing.

Recent events in our country have showcased extreme hurt. My heart breaks. I'm not sure what to do. I feel guilty that my life is so good. I'm surrounded by loving family and friends. I live in a safe place with the peaceful beauty of God’s creation just outside my windows. I have shelter. I have food. I have everything I need.

During the pandemic and during the protests, riots and political wars, I occasionally posted a picture on social media of something good in my life; a grandkid’s birthday, a sunset, a family get-together, a bike ride with my husband, a funny comment from a friend. I felt somewhat guilty. How dare I celebrate life when others are in such pain?

What are we to do? Jesus answered that question in Luke chapter 10 when Jesus told a lawyer to love his neighbor as himself. The lawyer then asked who his neighbor was.

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ (Luke 10:30-35)

The man that was beaten was a Jew. At that time, Samaritans and Jews were very prejudiced against each other. Two Jewish religious leaders passed by the wounded man and went out of their way to avoid him. Yet this Samaritan not only stopped to help, he got dirty. He most likely got bloody. He took time to bind up his wounds and get him to a safe place. He paid for his care. And then…he returned to continue his care, letting the wounded man know he wasn't forgotten.

We don't have to look far to find hurting “neighbors”. It might be a baby, a child, a spouse, a lonely person in a nursing home. It might be a complete stranger that you encounter in your busy day. It might be an entire family or even a group of people.

Come alongside the hurting. Look for them. Listen to them. Feel what they feel. Admit your ignorance. Try to understand. Get dirty if necessary. Get messy. Inconvenience yourself. Pray for them. Stand with them. Continually let them know you haven't forgotten.

But don't dwell on the negative. In the midst of hurt, we should still celebrate beauty, God's creation, family, goodness, kindness, even fun. Positive posts on social media don't mean you are ignoring the trauma of hurting lives. So often it’s a person’s way of celebrating life and inviting others to join them.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Let us take this spirit of power and love and go into our hurting world with a message of love and healing. One of the biggest lies of the enemy is that you and I can’t make a difference. Stop believing that! Remember, wherever a redeemed child of God goes, he goes with the Presence and power of the Holy Spirit who lives in him.

I don’t know about you, but I’m in awe of that fact. Let’s begin to walk as if we believe it!