The Pain Truth

I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. - Psalm 69:29


She stood before her Daddy crying - the tears of a frightened child in pain. She held up her tiny finger as evidence of her need for him. Her tender index finger was bleeding.

Tonight at church, the youngest daughter of my Pastor cut her finger. She was eating with one of her friends and opened a soft drink can. As they giggled and talked she poked her finger into the can opening and the predictable happened.

The hurt was instant with the blood not far behind. The tears and fears quickly trailed.

This little girl, a seven year old, knew immediately that she needed her Dad's loving attention.

She was right. Her father gently washed the wound and comforted her.

Moments later, she smiled at him as he placed a Band-Aid on her finger and she said, "I learned a hard lesson huh?"

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"She wanted me to tell you that she is no longer asking for prayers for healing, she simply wants us to pray that she can cope with her pain."

Those words greeted me as soon as I entered the church tonight. My friend Helen approached me with news about Barbara, a woman we love dearly. Barbara's cancer returned recently. Her prognosis is also unfortunately predictable.

I know where I must go to help her.

I run to you Father and hold up my sorrow. I cry out and confess my need.

One of Your precious children, a seventy year old woman, is frightened and hurting. Her pain is deep and unceasing.

I pray You comfort her.


This is still a hard lesson to learn.