The world is full of pain! All we have to do is look around us to see it. We are impacted emotionally, mentally and physically by our pain and the pain of friends, family members and sometimes even complete strangers.

We all experience broken places in our lives.

As God’s Word makes it clear, we have all sinned. And while there are many reasons for pain in our lives, the bottom line is our pain comes from sin.

Sin is a result of our going our own way, being spiritually separated from God. Thanks to Adam and Eve’s garden rebellion, mankind is now born into this world as enemies of God.

But as we already learned, God pursues us even in our pain, brokenness and sin with His steadfast, faithful, everlasting love. He has the only plan that can overcome our pain: Jesus.

Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life for 33 years, ministered to the outcasts, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and taught about the kingdom of heaven to the masses.

But His ultimate goal was to set us free from the power and penalty of sin by dying on the cross in our place.

Our terminal pain of sin has been cured forever!

Athlete, we still live in a fallen world where pain is a part of our lives, but we no longer have to live lives controlled or defeated by pain and sin. Romans 8:1,2 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

Jesus has overcome our sin forever, and we now walk in forgiveness, restoration and healing.

Perhaps there is a painful situation (physical, emotional, mental) that you need strength, hope, and healing for. There is good news, friend. You don’t have to live in hopeless despair.

We have a Savior who cares about our pain.

Jesus heals, but He also redeems all of our difficult circumstances for His glory and our good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Death? Poverty? Divorce? Illness? Injury? Joblessness? What is the circumstance in your life right now that needs a supernatural touch from God?

Athlete, you can bring God all the hurts and pain that you are shouldering right now, and He has promised to stand with you, encourage, equip and strengthen you, all the while working on your behalf.

In fact, God can even use our hard times to draw us closer to Him. Pain has a way of getting our attention and focusing our hearts on the Lover of our souls.

A prayer to consider: Lord, help me run to You with my pain, and trust You to sustain, heal, redeem and hold on to me.