Someone Is Hurting!

October 20, 2022

Someone Is Hurting!

Peter was a man’s man.  I imagine he was tall, broad shouldered, and quite strong.  He worked with his hands doing work I could not endure for more than a day or two. 

Peter worked the night shift which meant he slept most of the day while his friends and family were up and about.  Today, many first responders, nurses in care centers, and people working in manufacturing work the night shift, too.  They understand in ways I do not the sacrifices to family and health that come with working the night shift.

Peter was strong.  He was strong in his convictions, strong in his character, and strong in his faith in Jesus.  Maybe this is why Jesus renamed him “The Rock.”  On one occasion, Jesus told Peter that He would build the Christian Church on Peter.

Peter was a pretty remarkable man.  And yet, there came a season when Peter was hurting…hurting deeply.  Peter had let Jesus down, let his co-workers in the work of the Kingdom of God down, and let himself down.

Peter was hurting.  There was deep regret haunting his mind.  There was deep disappointment consuming his heart.  There was deep shame sickening his soul. 

And then, all the irrational nonsense began to get the better of Peter; Jesus will no longer accept me, Jesus will no longer trust me, Jesus will no longer love me.  Peter was hurting.  It was not so much physical distress that was crushing Peter; it was the stuff going on in his mind, his heart, and his soul.

When someone about whom we care is hurting, there is often no quick or easy answer to their pain.  While walking a couple of weeks ago, I met an older man.  He told me that several weeks ago he had an accident while mountain biking.  The accident left him with a broken pelvis and a broken hip.

When I first met him, he was walking with a walker.  He commented, “The surgeon says I may be able to walk without a walker at the end of six weeks.”  Then he added, “Six weeks is not very long when you are 25 years old.  But, when you are 75 years old, six weeks is a big chunk of the time you have left on this earth.”

Earlier this week, I saw him walking on the trail…without his walker.  He said, “The surgeon said I can start walking without the walker and riding my bike.”  There was great joy in his spirit.  His healing did not come quickly; it seemed to take forever!

Several days after Peter let Jesus down, the two had a conversation after breakfast on the beach.  Peter is still hurting; it seemed like forever that he was suffering. 

I imagine Peter was not even sure he should be around Jesus and the other disciples.  But, Jesus wants Peter to know the wholeness and healing that only Jesus can give.

In John 21:17 Jesus asks Peter a simple question; “Simon son of John, do you love?”  Jesus asks Peter the same question three times.  Sometimes the one who is hurting experiences healing and hope through the frequent affirmations of Jesus’ love.

Someone is hurting.  It may be someone you just met like the man I met on the walking trail.  It may be someone who is part of your extended family like some of my in-laws.  It may be someone who is a dear friend, someone with whom we work, or someone who has impacted our lives in a significant way.

Someone is hurting.  Maybe their mind is troubled, maybe their heart is sad, maybe their soul is consumed with fear.  Maybe their body is being attacked by cancer, maybe they have experienced a relationship break-up, maybe they are confused about a choice they need to make.

Someone you know is hurting today.  They may not hear Jesus speak to them while walking on the beach.  But, they might just hear Jesus speak through your voice.  Jesus wants to give them a word of encouragement that restores their hope or brings them healing or restores their strength and courage.

Someone is hurting and Jesus is looking to you to be His voice, His hands, and His acceptance.  Imagine what might happen if you asked the person about whom you care a simple question this week; “Do you know Jesus loves you?”  Then, imagine what would happen if you asked them this question every week for the next three months.

Someone you know is hurting and Jesus wants to use you to make a difference in their life today.  When you speak the love of Jesus, the person who is hurting will begin to find delight in the Lord…and so will you.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug

P.S.  Please take a moment right now to invite someone who is hurting or someone who cares about someone who is hurting to join our blog community.