One of my most painful situations in my entire life started with a phone call 10 years ago. A phone call from my wife that our weekend plans had changed and we needed to head to the hospital immediately to see my father. Though I had no clue what was going on, because of the eerie nature of the ride I knew it was significant. When I arrived in the hospital room, father told me he had found out his kidneys and liver were shutting down. Just a couple months prior he passed a full medical scan yet 4 days later he passed away.

Like no other time in my life this spiritual journey I was on became very real. It took a radical change. Sure I did the church thing occasionally, believed there was a God, celebrated Easter & Christmas… but the whole thing changed for me with instant pain and suffering.

Almost instantly, I began searching for God’s purpose in my pain. Where was God in all this? Asking, “If you are real God, where are you at?” Like no other time in my life I needed to know if this was about rituals, buts in seats, yada yada yada. I needed to personally experience the Jesus Christ I had heard about but never truly believed in. I needed Him to enter into my pain. And I WAS INSTANTLY OPEN FOR A CHRIST FOLLOWER TO show me where the Lord is at in all this, to weep with me, to feel my pain, and to live the Truth around me like never before as the hands and feet of Jesus.

WE ALL FACE PAIN AT SOME POINTS IN OUR LIVES, AND MANY OF YOU WERE JUST LIKE ME AT SOME POINT IN YOUR SEARCH FOR GOD: And because of pain and suffering became open to the truth of who God is….and, like me, desperately needed to be a recipient of compassion and mercy, and justice over suffering.

It is with that in context a few weeks back I studied and shared some thoughts at Indy Metro Church about the story of Lazarus. I quickly realized how truly this wasn’t just a story of Jesus entering into the pain of his friends 2k years ago, but how this is my story too.

This Biblical story of Jesus entering into the pain of his dear friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This is my story of how Jesus entered into my pain through the hands and feet of others. Read the whole story yourself, but below are a couple thoughts that stood out to me from the first few verses:

VS 1-3 & 5: It is abundantly clear that people very close to Jesus experience great pain. One of the greatest lies so many American Christians have been duped into believing is that to be close to Jesus removes you from pain and suffering.

VS 4- While God isn’t at the cause of suffering- WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING- WHETHER RICH OR POOR- IN OUR SUFFERING OR SOMEONE ELSE’S- THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALWAYS THERE- TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD MORE INTAMETLY.

As you read this story, what stands out to you? I’d love to hear it.

In response to a text like this, I encourage you to ask honest questions like: What pain has Jesus entered into throughout my life? Was it so clear to me it was Him? Where do I still need Jesus to enter in? How can I be used to enter into my neighbor’s pain?

The truth be told, sometimes all we can do is weep. For many of us “our Lazarus” wasn’t healed. We didn’t get the outcome we desired so we are left to search. God has shown and continues to show me the purposes for my pain over the years. My hope is for you to be able to share the same.