Have you ever noticed how we as Christians makes excuses for ourselves for having bad attitudes, negative thinking, and ungodly reactions?
I don’t feel good.
I’m under a lot of stress.
I’ve been hurt real bad.
I’m tired.
Yes. We feel pain and disappointment. We face struggles and obstacles in our way. We don’t always get treated the way we should. While we shouldn’t deny the reality of how we feel and what we have experienced, does that excuse us from demonstrating God’s love to those around us by lashing out at them or making their lives miserable? Does that excuse us from walking the walk?
No Loopholes in Scripture for When It Hurts
Read through Scripture and you’ll find verses like the following:
And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (2 Tim. 2:24)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Phil. 4:4-5)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:2)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rather rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor. 13:4-7)
Somehow we think we are the exception, that our situation is different. Scripture, however, makes no distinctions. We are to walk the walk even when it hurts. God knows what we’ll face in life and provides what we need to rise above.
- God knows we’ll have situations in life causing us to hurt and grieve so He provides comfort.
- God knows we’ll have stressful and anxiety-producing circumstances so He provides peace.
- God knows we’ll have sorrow and sadness in life so He provides joy.
- God knows we’ll have plenty of temptations so He provides grace to overcome.
- God knows we’ll have troubles of various sorts so He provides hope of a better day.
A Biblical Example of Walking the Walk Even When It Hurts
King David of the Old Testament was no stranger to suffering. Read through the Psalms and you’ll notice his candor in talking about his feelings but then it’s like as though he would catch himself and say “Why so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Ps. 42:11). He had a keen awareness of what God offers to those who hurt.
David penned the words,
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Ps. 23:4)
The entire Psalm 23 forms the basis for the devotional Bible study guide titled, Walk the Walk Even When It Hurts. As you work through the devotions, you’ll encounter a realistic view of struggles and hardships, the valleys of life, yet encouragement that it is possible to rise above.
Amen am really touched and have got my part. be blessed.
Josephat khayega, how good to know that God provides all we need, so for our part, it’s a matter of looking to Him. He will give us the strength and whatever else we need to do all the verses in this post tell us to do even when it hurts. — “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him …” (2 Pet. 1:3)