Your pain is nothing

I remember the first time I visited a cancer hospital when I was in college. We went around through the cancer wards, praying with patients and their families.

We watched parents weep, as we prayed for their children who were suffering with cancer; and as I saw tears flow down their cheeks, I began to tear up as well.

I still remember my Facebook status update from later that day when I went back home – “Never again will I be ungrateful.”

I had witnessed people suffering in ways much worse than I ever did, and I had realized in that moment, that my sufferings were nothing compared to theirs. My tiny little problems just could not compare to the sufferings of these children and their families.

That’s why I made that promise – to never be ungrateful ever again, because of all the blessings I had. I also promised that I would never be upset about the valleys in my own life.

I failed to keep that promise.

You see, as life went on, my little problems began to grow. Although they were still nothing compared to the sufferings of patients with cancer, the memory of that hospital visit began to fade away.

And though I’d think about them at times, and in comparison, I had it so easy, the truth is that life still hurt.

The truth today still remains – life hurts.

It has its ups and downs.

We live in a broken world.

My pain, in various different situations and circumstances, was very real.

YOUR pain too, is very real.

Now of course, we are called to not grumble about anything, and to give thanks in everything, but the truth is that the pain can be overwhelming. Whether it’s a loss of a friend or family, or a relationship, or a financial crisis, or failure, or rejection, or sickness, or a mental illness, or depression, or anxiety – the pain can cause us to want to just give up.

I made a promise when I witnessed other people’s sufferings, saying I would never be upset about my own sufferings ever again. My reasoning was simply this – that my pain is nothing…compared to theirs.

I realize now there was something missing in that reasoning; something that needed to be changed.

I still hold on to the statement that my pain really is nothing, and I’m here to tell you that as well.

Your pain is NOTHING!

But not because it’s nothing compared to the pain of others, no no!

We weren’t meant to compare our sufferings with each others at all.

Your pain is nothing…

…compared to the GLORY that will be revealed.

Oh yes! Your pain is nothing, compared to the joy and the glory of Jesus Christ when He comes and will mend this world, and will set everything in it’s place.

And when that day comes, you will see, that it has all been worth it.

Your pain, your very real pain, will have been worth it.