Diversions When I Hurt

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Our theology as a Christian faith is solid when we need help in dealing with suffering. However, scripture words do not make my pain go away. I know there are Christian brothers and sisters who do not hurt who say, "Well, you just gotta believe." Sorry folks, hurt, pain, and belief are like oil of water sometimes. They don't always mix. The reality is, pain is the mountain. Christ is the helper to get over the mountain. My analogy isn't very good either because sometimes my pain is a barrier between me and Christ, which is Satan's objective in making me hurt. Satan wants to drive a wedge or build a wall between me and Christ by using pain against me. Pain is Satan's weapon. But what do we do? Sometimes we just have to hang in there. We have to hang tough. One thing we can do is pray for others when we don't want to pray. You don't have to want to pray to pray. When you hurt, praying is hard to do. Sometimes, praying is the last thing in the world you want to do when you hurt. However, even though you might not know it, Christ is nearer to you when you hurt than you can ever know. Christ shares your pain. Christ knows your pain because he suffered as no one else has ever suffered.

I do not agree with those ministers, theologians, and lay persons who say "It is God's will" when you hurt. Christ did not come into the world to make me hurt. Christ came as the great physician who will take away my pain.

I do some visualization when I hurt. I visualize the love of God in the form of a light pouring down from Heaven pouring over my body. This visualization does not take away my pain, but the visualization does give me peace and a sense of God's presence.

Another thing I do is use music. I am sort of an old musician. Music can touch me and move me more than any other art form. I grew up in a Baptist church in Waldron, IN and we sang all the old standard hymns. Gene, who played the piano by ear, made such an enormous impact on my life. I know Gene is upstairs having a great time with the Lord. Thank you, Gene. I like a lot of other music genres in addition to gospel.

If I am down and depressed some of the music forms touch me, especially gospel, and the tears flow. Crying is God's way of helping you vent some of the pain. Sometimes crying helps. Sometimes crying does not help. Just remember Christ's hand is on your shoulder and His love catches every tear you shed.

When you hurt you also need diversions to help you keep your mind from focusing on the pain. I know meditation specialists will disagree with this statement. Some meditation techniques teach you to focus on the pain you can can control the pain. I have tried these techniques and they have just never worked for me. Your mileage may vary if you get my drift. You still need to try meditation because millions of people find relief who can meditate.

Another diversion I use is sports, mostly Purdue sports broadcasts. I graduated from Purdue and I can get pretty wound up when Purdue is on the tube on on the radio. Getting wound up helps me forget about the pain for a little while.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord place His healing hands upon you to give you comfort and peace.

Copyright 2009 Rev. Patrick Kelly