“O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.” Psalm 38:9
December 8, 2022
“Be persuaded, then, that God does not make light of your pain. I am comforted in my suffering in the thought that God knows all about it, and feels for it too. Sympathy is a great balm; and you have the sympathy of God. (A Book of Comfort for Those in Sickness, by P.B. Power).
In Psalm 38 David prays his lament, calling on the Lord to heal him from a crippling disease. To narrow our focus, in the words of C.H. Spurgeon: “This psalm continues in a long complaint (vv. 2-8), pauses to dart an eye to heaven (v. 9).” We are to be comforted in every pain “with the thought that it has not escaped the observation of God” (Powers). Run quickly to the thought that Jesus suffered pain, actually great pain. . . No doubt you have no pain but that He felt one like it, probably that very pain in its highest form upon the cross” (Powers). We are to call on God who alone understands the meaning of our groans. But do not underestimate the psalmist. It is as one source says (which I can’t locate), “Even in his state of depression, the psalmist knew his theology.” We must not doubt our relationship with the Lord. Even though body and mind are in conflict with each other, we can benefit from hearing David fight through his sense of isolation and helplessness. God has provided for us in our pain. Experience your fellowship with Christ, as Paul said, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:10). Our pain can have great value as it becomes an instrument in God’s hands to bring glory to Him. Do you want to be a comforter? Don’t avoid those who are enduring pain. Go to them. Help them. Serve them. Comfort them with the soothing promises of God.
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“Precious Lord, let me use my pain as an instrument whereby I can please you and encourage those who struggle with the groaning that ravages their mortal bodies.”