Experiencing pain is an ordeal everyone faces at some point in their lives. Whether the physical pain of broken bones or the emotional pain of broken hearts, much of my time as an emergency physician was spent addressing the challenging issues of pain in their lives.
No one is immune to pain. The deepest and most troubling questions about the meaning of my life have resulted from my own anguish and the troubles shared with those I love. I have invested much time, resources and emotional capital in avoiding, treating and managing my pain and the pain of my loved ones. Some of the most joyous of my life's experiences, the birth of each of my three daughters, came wrapped in the agony of childbirth.
Interestingly, God did not choose to avoid pain or death when He came to earth. Much of His life was invested in helping the hurting and oppressed – alleviating pain. And when the choice came, He chose personal pain, agony and death – so that we might be spared pain's blight for eternity.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
Join me this week – Holy Week – in expressing gratitude for this undeserved mercy – eternal pain relieved.
Sharing the journey with you,
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