My best example of this is what I've been thinking about most recently: Pain, hope, and trials. Recap of the bad? I got on this train of thought that if all my hope is in Christ (which I should do), then I won't be disappointed. Disappointment brings pain and suffering. Thus, when we don't put our hope in Christ and are sinful, we bring about pain and suffering on ourselves. (I know you're what your thinking... more or less this all makes sense so far- but just wait.) Here's the real kicker: Because of all this, it must be sinful be feel pain or suffer.
What a croc. I'm still kicking myself for believing this. ...Ironically, believing this (and not realizing I was until recently) has caused me more pain than it would have otherwise. After a long talk with my mom, she shed some serious light on the truth for me.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
What used to be my favorite verse had nearly lost all meaning, because I completely forgot about the truth behind it. Jesus tells us we will face trials and pain and suffering- it's the nature of the world we live in! Yes, the pain is a product of our sinfulness, but it is not sinful to wrestle trials or to experience suffering and grieve the pain that accompanies it.
It's His amazing grace that allows us to feel these things, and feel the hope and love that He rushes to us with. JD Greear, pastor at The Summit Church, said it best a couple weeks ago when he preached on Jesus' amazing tenderness. "Jesus can hardly resist someone who is suffering who is in front of Him... He is the one who, when He’s sitting by your bedside, make pain and death feel like a nap." Jesus is compassionate and merciful; He wants us to run to Him with pain, suffering, trials, and temptations. He wants to comfort us.
Cry. Feel. Grieve.
Cry. Feel. Grieve.
...And think rationally about these things.
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