Jesus Understands Your Pain - Your Nightly Prayer - March 3rd
Jesus Understands Your Pain
Your Nightly Prayer
By Sophia Bricker
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
"He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care." - Isaiah 53:3
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Oftentimes, in our pain and suffering, we grow irritable with those around us. “They don’t understand,” we say to ourselves. “None of them is experiencing the same illness or pain. They can’t even begin to understand what I’m going through.” As these thoughts whirl around in our heads and we push people further away, we start to feel alone. It can feel like there's no one who will walk with us through this shadowy part of our lives.
Of course, as natural as it may be to lash out at others in our pain, it is unfair to think that someone cannot understand or empathize with the hardships we are experiencing. There are many who have gone through suffering and can offer the comfort and wisdom that they have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:4). At the very least, they can lend a listening ear. The One who fully understands our pain is always within reach: our Savior, the Lord.
None of us can accuse Jesus of failing to empathize with our pain, because He lived and felt it, too. Scripture refers to Him as “a man of sorrows,” presented in the book of Isaiah as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:1-3). For those who have been rejected or looked down upon by others, there is comfort in knowing Jesus was, too. For those who have felt the deep pangs of grief, Jesus has felt it, too. For those who have been oppressed, Jesus understands. He endured the insults of men and was put to death, though completely innocent of any wrongdoing.
Our Lord understands our pain; He carried it. Though we all like sheep have gone astray and turned away from Him, the Great Shepherd entered His flock as the perfect Lamb of God to bear our suffering and die on the cross in our place (Isaiah 53:4). We are healed by His wounds (Isaiah 53:5).
Whenever we are tempted to add God to our list of individuals who “don’t get” what we are going through, may we remember those nail marks in Jesus’ hands. He is not an aloof, faraway God who merely glances at our pain. He entered our dark world to heal and restore that which was broken, which is why He is a High Priest who empathizes with our temptations and suffering (Hebrews 4:14-15). He knows about the human experience because He lived it.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Lamb of God,
I often feel frustrated when others do not seem to understand the pain I am experiencing. At times, the sting of misunderstanding can rival whatever physical or emotional suffering that afflicts me. Help me not to so easily dismiss the care or offers of assistance from others during times of hardship, just because I think they do not grasp the full extent of my pain. And turn my thoughts to You, the Lamb who was slain for the sins of all. You understand when I hurt, feel alone, or face rejection because you experienced it too. Remind me again of Your shepherding presence in this dark valley, pointing forward to the day when You will wipe every tear from my eyes. In Your name, Jesus, I pray.
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. A deed that someone did for you in the past that brought you comfort during an illness or difficult situation. What was it?
2. An example from Jesus’ earthly ministry when He encountered something you are experiencing now, like tiredness or pain. How does this picture of God entering your suffering bring you encouragement and hope?
3. The nail wounds on the resurrected Christ–the wounds that heal us (Isaiah 53:5). What is the significance of the marks? How might thinking of them in times of pain remind you of God’s love?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: @Unsplash/Warren Wong
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