This is a hurting world
There was a time in the U.S. when hurting people had somewhere to turn to help sort out their pain. There were family members, friends, and even the church who could help a hurting person get past the pains of life. A hurting person need to reach out and gain understanding of their life pain through the love of Jesus Christ.
Today there is nowhere to turn. The family unit has disintegrated to the point of total collapse, friends are to focus on their lives to reach out and help, and the church is extremely busy making money to care about the pain around them. It does not matter what the pain is from, it could be an abuse problem, relationship problems, an illness, death of friend or family member, there is no place to turn for help. It is because there is no to place to turn, many believing Christians hurting in this world today, blame the LORD God for not helping them in their time of hurting, suffering and pain.
The Christian should have the same attitude toward suffering that Christ had “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of” (1 Peter 4:1-2).
Jesus had two attitudes toward sufferings. Jesus has taught us to have acceptance with acknowledgment, “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:38-39 KJV).
The endurance of Jesus has taught believing Christians to, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:2-3 KJV). His endurance demonstrates His forgiving spirit, and the concern for those suffering and hurting around Him, and Jesus had a distinct sense of purpose.
The Bible tells us that Christians suffer because they live in a sinful world. Romans confirms that we desire, crave, long, lust, even desire for that which is forbidden. (Strong. 2001. #1939). (Romans 7:8 KJV). Sin dwells with in all Christians, and the Christian knows that no good dwells in the flesh. The Christian do not know how to perform that which is good. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:19-20 KJV).
There are many in this hurting world who grieve death, they also grieve the loss of any kind of relationship. There are those who mourn the rejection of parents, family members, the church, friends and even jobs which can make one feel worthless and hopeless. The pain, devastation, and hurtfulness of betrayal causes one to never trust again, leaving one alone and feeling insignificant. Any one of these hurts can cause depression, which is a kind of wasting away. There are rejected men, women, and children who feel worthless. There are the betrayed who are so wounded they fear they can never trust again. There are those depressed for whom a single positive thought is an impossibility.
This hurting world and the burdens that the pain causes cannot be understood or carried by us alone. Jesus is the only one who hears our pain and understands with deep compassion. Jesus is forever in our pain and hurts with us.
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Peter 4: 14-16 KJV).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. “This is a hurting world.” Becker Bible Studies Library June 2018.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=3145. Retrieved [dateMLA].
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. (2018). “This is a hurting world.”Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=3145. Retrieved: [dateAPA].
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. (2018) “This is a hurting world.” Becker Bible Studies Library (June), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=3145.(accessed [dateChi]).
About the Author
Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
