I learned that pain had a good part to play. Pain actually became beautiful.
I know of story after story, testimony after testimony where someone was thrust into a crisis, and they eventually came to Christ. Or someone’s crisis opened the door to the gospel for someone else who observed the crisis. In essence, the pain of the crisis prepared them to find the beauty of a Savior.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Months after Kim’s death, I received a message from a former youth group member who was now living in Africa. Josh K. shared that he had decided to follow Christ. In part, he referenced a letter that Kim wrote to him in her own handwriting before he moved with his family. I knew nothing of the letter. Kim’s influence continues. Beauty out of pain.
I also learned, on this unwanted journey, that weakness was strength. Of course, I already knew it. I had heard 2 Corinthians 12:10 all my life:
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
So, the pain of weakness paves the way to find real strength, his strength. If I don’t recognize my need for his strength, I live my life pretending that I can provide all the strength I need. I pretend I can muster it up from my own resources. I avoid acknowledging my weak state. Or worse, in rebellion, I refuse to face my weakness.
Pain is beautiful when it helps us learn hard lessons. As the psalmist declares in Psalm 61,
“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” Psalm 61:1-3
The pain of loss will give birth to gain if the pain is embraced. I want to be careful here. Loss is loss. It’s irreversible. Loss itself will never be gain. No one can convince you that the loss of a beloved person can ever be re-identified as gain or good. But loss can pave the way for gain. I have gained deep insights and deeper relationships with my children, for example. I have experienced caring love from my children. Their mother would be so proud of the way they have cared for and loved me. It’s beautiful. It’s a gain in my life, a blessing. And yet, the loss that gave rise to this love is still painful.
In pain, the beauty of Jesus gives birth to a worshiping heart. He can make a woeful heart sing joyful praise. One morning on a hike, I was listening to the song, “Life is Beautiful.” Rend Collective captures something in this verse and chorus:
“Up from the ash, up from the dust, You’re recreating us. I will not waste this day you’ve made, I will be glad. Rejoice, rejoice, in the sunshine, in the sorrow. Oh, my soul rejoice.” Rend Collective, “Life is Beautiful”
He is recreating us. He created us, but the Fall called for recreation. It’s our role to surrender and to grow and to work out our salvation. Do so and watch God turn pain into beauty.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” Philippians 2:12
So beautiful and well said. Pain and gain. Loss and gain. All working seamlessly together with and without our effort. And so gratifying when we see the beauty within it all and realize that truly, God is for us and not against us.
I love your reflections about your gain and one of them being how your children have cared for you. One of the most beautiful gifts I have learned to receive is the strengths of our boys and their wives as they continue to grow in wisdom and experience and maturity. Just a few weeks ago we went on a camping adventure for my 60th birthday. From one text a year ago that I sent with a “hey, it would be really fun to go camping all together for my 60th” and pretty much Adam took the reins this summer and planned the entire trip from arranging the RVs and more. These gifts you see in your children and their families: legacy and gifts sown through the years and now reaped by you in such a time as this when you needed them. Kim still at work.
Thanks, Cyndy…and well done, Adam! Not surprised at all by him.
Embracing emotional pain has been a real breakthrough for me. I am now not trying to shut it out or ignore it, but I’m welcoming it. As you said, its the evidence of the deep love and life Libby and I shared. I’m now comforted, not tormented. This has revolutionized and brought a sea change to my dealing with emotional pain. For the first time since her passing last November, I can now watch and enjoy videos from our kids of her laughing and smiling. Haven’t been able to do that until I’ve begun to learn how to embrace pain.
Thanks again D. Ray
Mike Murphy
Mike, I fully understand it is so encouraging to hear a brother who has learned and experienced that kind of healing. I get it! Thanking God right now for you!