God’s Pain, God’s Love

As we celebrate Easter together, perhaps we can reflect for just a moment on the fact that not only does God love us, but he feels pain and grieves for us as well.
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In Genesis 6:5-8 we read how the “Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on earth, and his heart was filled with pain”.
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Craig Catlett

This passage gives us a clue that we really are made in His image, and that we all at times feel pain.

The American Heritage dictionary describes pain as “An unpleasant sensation occurring as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder”. 

I’m guessing that each of us has felt just a few of those “unpleasant sensations” on the journey we all take called life. By those unpleasant experiences we can truly appreciate the joys of love that have surrounded us through life, though we may not have fully appreciated it.

For parents those joys include;  marriage, friendship, the birth of a child, being able to share in that child’s growth and relishing the duty of protecting those children, as they are precious in our sight. 

This journey also has moments of pain.

We protect our children, especially as they are “of us” and are viewed as one of the greatest gifts we ever receive. Imagine, if you would, the pain God felt when he witnessed His only son tortured and placed upon the cross. The very people He created made the decision to enact this heinous crime.  And yet, God’s love would prevail.
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This is a season of celebration. A celebration of new life, of forgiveness, and of reflection upon the love our God has for us that we can pass on to others.

Psalm 96 states:
Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.

Even in His pain the Lord found it in His heart to forgive and love US. Perhaps by His example we can sing a new song and love one another as the Lord would want us to.

In His Name,
Craig