I remember being angry at God. I was in pain and I couldn’t understand why He didn’t seem to be doing anything to help me. I just couldn’t make sense of why God would let me struggle.

One day I was visiting a Christian friend in hospital. I was challenged and surprised by what I saw. He was in much worse pain than me, but he wasn’t angry at God at all. In fact, his sickness seemed to be bringing him closer to God, not further away!

Since then, my anger about my pain has become less. And there is one big reason: I have come to know God. He has given me love and happiness and goodness. I know Him as a person, not a far-off idea. And I’ve realised that no amount of pain can stop me from knowing Him.

Where is God when it hurts? He is with us, as He has been with us from the beginning. He is right here to pull us through. He even uses pain to teach and strengthen us if we allow Him to.

Jesus has hurt and bled and cried and suffered. When we are in pain, we can know our God really does understand. He really has been there too. But one day He will return to bring the world as we know it to an end. Then God will create for us a new, incredible world. And pain will be gone forever (REV. 19:11-22:6).

By: Philip Yancey

To Pray About . . .

Lord, thank You for giving me love, happiness and goodness. I choose to believe that You are with me even in my darkest hour.