“My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Psalm 39.3, 4
A wise man once quipped, “There are two things that are impossible for someone to express to another: 1. How deeply you feel, and 2. How bad you hurt.” The world of psychology attempts to interpret feelings and often try to cover bad feelings with medication. A few years ago while I was vacationing in the hospital, I began to experience congestive heart failure – to which the attending physician ordered an anti-depressant.
The medical community seems to have pills for every itch and twitch; yet, when considering pain, they ask the patient to rate his pain on a scale of one to ten. Even that is relative because your one might be my ten. And, if you try to suffer through some pain you might give a lower number and miss the benefits of pain relief. Should you give a higher number, you may receive a lesser dose that leaves you hurting.
I have had some really good, wonderfully attending doctors who have done their best to help me with my physical ailments. And, I have had a wonderful group of prayer warriors both within and without my church to bolster me as they have gone many times before our Father requesting help on my part. With all things considered, most of the roads we travel, whether filled with people or vacant of person, we travel alone.
The depth of our hurt or the height of our joy are generally experienced on a personal level. The emotional roller coaster of our lives is generally a one-seater in which we must cope with the hills, drops and curves.
Today, I heard of one of our former members who grew up in our church and has become a fine MD in Alabama. She and her family have always tried to put God first in their lives and have followed Him as closely as possible. She was at work when her husband began activities at home getting the family ready for the day. When he entered their 2-year-old son’s bedroom, he found the young boy had passed in the night.
My mind went back to more than one experience in my family’s life when unexpectedly God called one of our children home. Our feelings ran the gamut and no human help eased the experience. We were offered medication and counsel; however, what helped was the realization that we were not walking in that dark valley alone – our Savior was there with us. His promise to never leave nor forsake us became our hiding place from the grief and despair. As we walk through the dark days of our lives, we know that God is our safe sanctuary. We are allowed to grieve and sink our swollen faces in His breast for comfort.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23.4-6