Peace in the Pain.


Personally to me, peace in the pain sounds rather strange. You’d be pretty twisted in more ways than one if you experience peace when you go through pain, be it emotional, physical or whatever. Luckily for us, that is more or less the world’s view and since as John writes as well in John 17, verses 11 and 16. It more or less sums up the phrase, “We’re in the World, but not of the World” Conformity can be a very comforting thought or gesture, but I guess nothing’s really that easy is it.
The examples given in the book are more or less sob stories about loss of parents, loved ones, boy friend girlfriend yada yada, can’t play basketball/sports anymore etc. Sure this sound kinda sad and somewhat relatable to, but it’s not much different from anyone watching an episode of Grey’s Anatomy or One Tree Hill.
I encourage you to share your personal stories be it the lowest of the lowest points in your life to them, your struggles, your heart aches, times when you felt like you’ve hit rock bottom, when you’re in desperation. Granted this may be very personal information that you’re sharing, but I believe it’s imperative in building trust with our kids, and I for one do share such stories with mine, though I suspect it kinda bores them.
Of course, the lesson also shares about how you should deal with these setbacks, comfort like how He’ll take care of those who are brokenhearted etc, the 3 verses the book gave on pg 31. Ultimately I’m sure most of the answers and solutions always boils down to how much faith you have. Though that is correct, I think it’ll be good too to perhaps share how you’ve got out of that hole or situation you were in like you shared earlier, kinda like the conclusion to that story.
The verses provided are powerful and relevant, however, sharing something from my own personal experience, James 1:2-4 gets me through a lot of times when I really don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel anymore.
“ 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. “
In conclusion, faith will definitely get them through, but it’s important that we set the foundations right, and strengthen their faith so that they may one day rely on it.
Know that along with most things, this isn’t a magic formula that will make their problems disappear overnight, but it’s a gradual process that will eventually be resolved in His time.
Sometimes, things really have to get worse before they can get better.
Thanks for reading, hope this helps.
- Leroy