Too Much Pain

What is spiritual dishonesty?  Could it be when I refuse to tell the Lord what I honestly think or feel?  Might it involve minimizing pain before others to project hollow strength?  If the fear of what people can think of me, if the truth is told, exceeds the actuality of my condition, I’ve robbed them and myself of what it means to be genuine. In perpetuating falsehood, no one is bettered, nor can healing occur. I wonder if the means to honesty is too much pain—something Job can help us grasp.

​Meditation
Job 9:16-18--If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said. He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause. He doesn’t let me catch my breath but soaks me with bitter experiences.
 
Job faced loss at a level most people in this country will not experience. A storm killed all his children.  His possessions were taken or destroyed.  His health was so battered that while he sat in ashes, he had to take a broken piece of pottery to scrape the infected boils covering his body. He was not merely a mess; he was a certified disaster! 
Can you imagine telling your friends that even if you had an audience with God, He would ignore what you said? Could you impugn the Creator with blame for all your problems and credit Him with relentless badgering?  Not if you wanted to keep your position as elder or reputation as a “godly” woman. If you want to be a “good” Christian, you suck up adversity and drive on with a frozen smile and raised chin. But it won’t work for long—it’s dishonest.
           
If you carefully read Job’s book, the man said many hard things about his Maker.  He was bitterly critical of the perceived unfairness of his suffering.  He had nowhere to turn for relief in his cauldron of agony. But note that God never struck him down despite his accusations. Amid too much pain, Job was honest. He said precisely what he felt in the presence of whoever cared to listen. He was real because to be unreal held zero value when to be dead seemed a better option.
           
Are you in too much pain?  Set aside the façade of spiritual strength.  Let God know exactly how you feel.  Not only can He take it, He will love you through every ugly syllable, groan, and despairing cry.  Disregard what others may say because you were brutally honest. Truth can only set us free if we are truthful.  It doesn’t work with pretending.
           
Job could not understand why God allowed him to suffer.  Nor do we when hell seems more real than heaven.  But read the story.  God blesses Job beyond what his too much pain could imagine. If you love Jesus and are willing to persevere in trusting Him, you too will find ultimate joy and healing—something to think about . . . in reveration.
 
Inspiration
“Pain plants the flag of truth within a rebel fortress.”—C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain

©2024 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)