“And once this storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive.  You won’t even be sure, in fact, if the storm is really over.  But one thing is certain.  When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in.  That’s what this storm’s all about.” ~ Haruki Murakami

I’ve always thought of myself as a Strong, “Pick yourself up by the boot straps” kind of girl, with a high pain tolerance.  Therefore, my Sympathy Button was geared to a lower setting.  (some might say it was broken all together)  I could muster up sympathy once, or maybe even twice for the same person, but if their pain lingered . . . . I found myself avoiding them.  My honest thought was (not proud of this, but it is true)  “Come on now, I know you’ve had (fill in the blank) happen to you, and I know it was painful, but I’ve had painful things happen to me and I’ve gotten over it.  It’s time to move on!”

• Why does other people’s pain make us uncomfortable?  
• Why do we think telling someone in pain about “our” similar or worse, painful experience is beneficial?  

Jesus NEVER ignored, avoided, or “one upped” people’s pain!  Think about it.  Jesus Christ lived one of the most pain filled lives there could be:  He was thought to be illegitimate.  King Herrod tried to kill him when he was born.  The people he came to save hated him.  He was betrayed, mocked, spit upon, denied by friends, beaten, and tortured to the point of death by people HE Loved, who didn’t love him.  And he endured ALL of this willingly!  If there were anyone who rightfully could have said “Suck it up Buttercup”, or “You think you’ve got it bad, let me tell you about the time….” it was Jesus.  Yet, look at the examples he set for us:

Mark 1:40-41. To the man NO ONE wanted to Touch, because he had leprosy.  Jesus TOUCHED him (he could have healed him without touching him, but I believe Jesus knew the lack of touch was more painful than even the disease), and healed the man of both.

Luke 8:43-48. To the woman who felt like an outcast, overlooked and not understood, because she had seen doctor after doctor for 12 years, and yet they could not help her quit bleeding.  Jesus asked “Who touched me?”  (You know He knew who touched him). He made the woman speak up (find her voice again, because she had forgotten how to use it), and then pointed her out to the crowd commending her for her faith in front of everyone referring to her as Daughter. Saying “Daughter your faith has made you well..” Once again, I believe Jesus knew this woman suffered more from the pain of being an outcast, where no one heard her, or included her than she did from bleeding, and He healed her of All!

Mark 10:46-51. To the blind beggar who had lost his dignity and identity, because he had allowed his illness to “Define” him.  Jesus asked “What do you want me to do for you?”  Wasn’t it obvious what the man wanted?  Again, I believe Jesus asked the blind beggar the question, because sometimes we can become addicted to being a “victim”.  When we fall prey to the lies and believe “It’s always going to be this way, why bother, or this is my lot in life…”  we allow our pain to Define us.  Jesus made the beggar choose by asking him the question “What do you want (most) for me to do for you?”  (You choose Victor or Victim?)

Before Precious Metals of Gold or Silver can be fashioned into something valuable, they must be placed in the Refiner’s Fire.  Their natural state is not shiny, or precious.  The Dross (impurities) MUST be burned off before they can shine!  If they remain in the fire too long they will melt, not long enough and they will be dull and worthless. The Refiner knows exactly when his Precious Metals can be taken out of the fire, and that is when he can see his reflection in them!  And so it is with us!  Life on this side of Heaven is hard, but we have a Refiner named Jesus.  He said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. We will face pain, because we live in a broken world.  Jesus uses that pain for our good (to remove the impurities of our sinful nature) and replaces it with His Reflection (Love), so that we can Shine for Him!

Father forgive me when I have ignored, avoided, or “one-upped” someone else’s pain, because their pain made me uncomfortable.  Help me to love like You did, whether or not someone loves me back.  As painful as this time in my life is, keep me in the fire until All of the Dross is removed, and I Shine Only For You!  I am so thankful YOU call me Your Precious Daughter!