Life Hurts

If there is one really discouraging thing I know to be true it is this: life hurts. We could all have more health, more friends, more love, more money, more happiness and less sickness, strife, hatred, poverty, and sadness. John 16:33 confirms that I am right that life hurts, but also gives hope to my hopeless statement, "in this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world."

The KJV says that I will have tribulation. I like the word tribulation because it is more what I feel. Tribulation feels rocky, full of pits and twists and turns... dangerous. Life feels very dangerous and unpredictable. Some days everything is going well and then out of nowhere life throws a curve ball... tribulation. This is an absolute certain declaration that is pronounced by Christ. He himself is the Truth so how could this be anything but true? No one is exempt. Tribulations concern us because we don't really prefer to have them. We would much rather have a quiet and painless life. But Jesus' words here preclude us from living a life like that. You will have tribulation. There is no getting around it.

As long as I am on this planet, I will suffer from the frailties and weaknesses of all humanity. Do I feel particularly sensitive to them? Yes, I do. I feel like there are those in my life that weather the stormy seas of life much better than I do. I also feel like I am more frail and weak than most of my compatriots. I am sick a lot, and my heart is wounded in ways that I cannot express. It would be amazing and awesome to be free of those things; it really would be. However, the weakness of my body, the consequences of my sin and the sin of others are here to stay.

There are several versions of the Bible that say "be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." I chuckle a little at the phrase "be of good cheer." I am rarely of good cheer. I am a cynical realist. Then the second part, "I have overcome the world." I have no theological doubt about Jesus being seated at the right hand of the Father having conquered death and hell. However, I feel like there is still so much bad in the world. Jesus will, of course, have ultimate victory in the world, but right now life seems to have more trouble than overcoming. I should be of good cheer though based solely on the face that Christ has set free the captives, ransomed them from the power of sin and death.

I have had a tough week, that is for sure. Last night at church I was weeping, thinking, and trying to pray as we sang. I just kept coming back to this world having trouble and how I want to escape the pain of this life. I wanted Jesus to overcome my trouble. I literally wanted to see God face to face and be absent from this world forever. I do not think that is what is supposed to happen or else it would have. I think that there is something more for me to do in this trouble and in the pain, even in the midst of hopelessness and heartbreak. Paul reminds me that God's grace is sufficient for even me, for His power is made perfect in my weakness. Am I using the pain, tribulation and trials to let my weakness be a place for God's power to be made perfect? I don't think so. I don't even think I know how to. I feel like I am at rock bottom emotionally, physically and mentally. But even at the bottom, Christ has overcome. (Now to learn how to rest in that assurance.)