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One Woman's Pilgrimage

    by Linda Bush Cannon

Sitting With the Pain
Date Posted: November 7, 2010

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…”

I was speaking with a friend today about dealing with some of the painful struggles we’re asked to go through in life… those dark times that seem unbearable. We want to break away from the pain, and find escape somehow, but God often calls us to instead sit with the pain for awhile.

Sit with the pain? I don’t want to sit with it, or spend any more time with it – I just want it to be over, and NOW! That’s pretty much been my heart’s cry when I have to face down those ordeals.

I have this picture in my head. I’m alone on a beach, enjoying the warmth of the sun, minding my own business, just relaxed, comfortable and happy. Then suddenly – BOOM! This tsunami-like wave just crashes down on me. Suddenly I’m engulfed in this raging wall of water, tossed and twisted, unable to control anything. I can’t breath, I can’t see, my heart races until it’s about to explode. After what seems like an eternity I’m washed back up on shore completely broken. I come to, barely able to think, or move, wracked with pain.

I lie there for I don’t know how long… aching and confused and just trying to figure out what happened. All I know is that some Hand has pulled me out, back onto the beach. The salt water is stinging my eyes, and I can barely see His face, but I know its Jesus. “Hold onto Me, it’s not over yet, but I will be with you.” No sooner than He speaks those words, another wave of pain washes over me, but not quite as strong. Once more I’m completely immersed and sinking down, but His hand is holding me tightly and I am aware of His presence and strength.

Again and again this scenario repeats itself, but the intensity and frequency subside with each passing wave, until all that is left is the occasional almost gentle lap of the tides. The only consistency is Jesus holding onto me, keeping me from drowning, covering me with Himself, protecting me. He doesn’t explain why it’s all happening, although I cry and beg Him to tell me. He just asks me to trust Him, and deep inside that’s all that really matters, so I huddle closer and cling to Him for dear life, eventually falling peacefully asleep in His arms.

I don’t know why the Lord calls us to trials, but I do know HE is in control of those trials, and He must have a pretty good reason for it. And it is true… in time the intensity and frequency of those waves of pain do subside, as the healing process takes place, and the faith increases, and I grow closer to Him. I learn again how to breathe, how to move, how to function. I will never be the same, but maybe that’s part of the reason it all happens.

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Biography Information:
Linda is "...simply one woman running hard after Jesus, in an effort to be authentic and always growing in my devotion to Him, while open and real in the hopes that my life might point to and glorify Christ my Lord." She has been a women's Bible study leader for over 17 years, and is a wife, mother, certified personal trainer, life coach, health/wellness coach, Pilates/Pilates Reformer instructor, writer, photographer and "wild 'n crazy wacky woman of God" She lives in NJ, and is happiest when she's outdoors by a stream or in a park with a book, cooking for family and friends, or simply enjoying early mornings in God's natural sanctuary of nature. Her life verse is Philippians 3:7-14.

You can find her on her website at www.cannoncrosscoaching.com
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