I am a little overwhelmed as I hear of friends and family who are hurting. Some are experiencing the tragic loss of a child, others are struggling through life-threatening diseases, and many young families are hurting from the after-effects of broken marital relationships. I am reminded that we live in a broken world filled with pain.
During a recent mission trip to South Africa, I met an amazing couple, Mac and Di. A few weeks after our mission trip, Mac was diagnosed with lung cancer. He has experienced intense pain both emotionally and physically, and his cancer has not responded well to treatment. Di, said in a recent e-mail, "I am just glad that this world is not God’s final plan 'cause it’s quite a mess!" When I read her email, I thought, "She's right, it is a mess." We live in a broken world, filled with broken people. No one in this world is exempt from pain and disappointment. Income, social status, power, popularity, or fame can't shield us from the effects of a broken world. The big question we must consider is, "How are we responding to the pain we experience in our circumstances?" As one friend put it recently, "My problems remind me to hold on tight to Jesus everyday." That is the answer. Hold on tight to Jesus, know that each day is a gift, and be relieved to know that there's more than this life, ahead of us. God ultimately holds us tight through our circumstances and won't let go. When life is a mess, remember Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."