TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Elder Chris Beltran

When the phone rang late at night, we could not take away the idea that the caller would bring us bad news. Who would call that late to simply chat, right? Or what if, upon check-up, the doctor’s quiet voice expresses the dreaded words we don’t want to hear? How do we usually respond to these kinds of scenarios? Perhaps some of us would react with questions like, “How could God do this to me?” “I have been faithfully serving Him; why is He treating me like this?” Then, this question will linger in our minds for a long time: “Would a loving God allow pain in our lives?”

A short article at the back of a magazine published a story about a little girl named Ashlyn. She was an incredibly happy, eager, and energetic child with the best contagious laughter. She is a typical lovable 5-year-old. However, Ashlyn is one of the 50 people in the world with a rare genetic condition. She’s unable to feel or sense pain or extreme temperature. As a toddler, Ashlyn would often be wrapped with athletic tape to prevent her from hurting herself (i.e., falling down the stairs), which may damage her limbs while she cannot feel pain and cry out. There were times when she knocked out eight of her teeth, dug a hole in her eye, and was covered with hundreds of biting fire ants while playing without shedding a tear.

It is difficult to read such a story without concluding that pain is necessary. Imagine accidentally biting the tongue so hard, unknowingly drinking a cup of boiling water, curiously touching the light of a candle without having the pain, or recognizing that we are bleeding. In our difficult circumstances, many ask why a loving God would allow pain to happen in the first place. Ashlyn’s mom offered a different perspective and said, “I would give anything, absolutely anything for Ashlyn to feel pain.”

Pain is the body’s signal for danger, whether slight or severe. C.S Lewis said, “…God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains…” Of course, it is wonderful when pain is removed and the eyes are wiped dry. We are comforted by God’s promise that one day, there will be no more death, mourning, pain, or tears” (Rev. 21:41). But there is something wonderful about a God who also gives us pain as a guide and loudspeaker to warn and tell us to trust in Him no matter what may happen.

Job was tempted and afflicted by the devil, which the Lord allowed. The purpose of the devil is for us to deny God and doubt His goodness. However, if we truly trust in the Lord, it is a wonderful opportunity to testify His greatness and faithfulness amid adversity. Job grieved and lamented for his loss and was falsely accused (as sometimes we are). Yet Job remained firm in his faith (and so can we).

While knowing God will wipe away every tear, it is equally comforting that God does not see our pain here as pointless or empty. The psalmist reminds us that so our tears on earth do not go unnoticed. God has kept count of our sorrows; each tear and pain is recorded (Psa. 56:8). As a parent grieving at a child’s bruise, God reaches out to us–even through our pain, as He now has our attention. Remember, even Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. God collects our tears in His bottle until the day when sorrows will be no more. He is powerful, good, wise, and loving enough to be trusted.

REFLECTION

“You said you’d come and share all my sorrows. You said you’d be there for all my tomorrows. I came so close from sending you away, but just like you promised, You came here to stay. I just had to pray, and Jesus said, ‘Come to the water. Stand by my side. I know you are thirsty. You won’t be denied. I felt every teardrop when in darkness you cried, and I strive to remind you, for those tears, I died.'” –For Those Tears, I Died 🎶

PRAYER

Lord, strengthen my faith, especially when I am in hard times, experiencing suffering and pain. Help me remember what the psalmist wrote, You are collecting our tears in a bottle. This means You know why and what is happening in our lives. I look forward to the day that there will be no more tears, pain, and sadness. In Jesus’ name, amen.