Pain and Perfection

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity… but there is a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother (NIV). Proverbs 17:17 & 18:24b

Punky Brewster was a theologian. Did you know that? One of her most famous theological platitudes was: “How can you know if you’re happy if you’re never, ever sad?” A similar expression says, “You can never savor the exhilaration of the mountain top until you’ve experience the depression of the valley.”

Punky was right. For instance, angels really cannot understand the joy that fills our hearts as God’s children because they have never personally experienced the pain and defilement of sin. Because we know the pain of the valley, we also know the joy and exhilaration of the mountaintop.

Over the years I have often wondered why trials seemed to hunt me down. It seemed that I had more than my share. Ever felt that way? Then one day, I ran across a translation of James 1:2 that said we should welcome trials as dear friends. How strange is that? I had always treated my trials as enemies, not friends.

I have also found that pain and His perfect love go hand in hand. When the bottom falls out, you find out who really loves you and who doesn’t. The cross is the junction where pain and perfect love most obviously intersect. In spite of His agony, Jesus still loved and forgave us all… every one of us.

During a very tough time in my life, God gave me a poem that expressed the deep longings and questions of my heart. I share it with hopes that your longings and questions may be fulfilled and answered as well.

I used to sit and wonder why trials would search me out.

I’d fuss and fume and rant and rave but mostly I would pout.

My heart would break, my soul would shake ‘til I thought I would die…

The heavens turned from blue to brass as I kept shouting, “WHY?!?”

I guess my Lord gets a lot of that when we hit the rocky road.

We all get weak and want to die as we wilt beneath the load.

That’s when the Lord reminds me, “I know the pain and strife…

I know what it means to suffer and die, to even despair of life.

The pain of life lived all alone is more than you can bear.

I hung upon a rugged cross when no one seemed to care.

That’s why I send you precious friends who love you like I do,

Who walk with you and cry with you until the trial is through.”

There are friends who say, “I love you,” when things are going fine…

But the friends that Jesus sends to you will love you all the time.

They don’t just love with words alone, they love you with their deeds.

And when they find you in a bind, they run to meet your needs.

They stand and cry beside you when a loved one is called home.

They come to bear your pain and loss and won’t leave you alone.

They’ve learned a blessed secret that most don’t understand…

They know that pain and perfect love most times go hand in hand.

Blessings,

Kenny