“But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ~ C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p.93
The pain experienced by Mary and Martha leaps off the pages of Scripture. Having done all they (and supposedly, medical professionals of that day) could do, Mary and Martha stood helplessly by as their brother slowly slipped away. The tears, the frustration, and the heartache permeate the opening sentences of this powerful story. They experienced pain on almost every level possible.
But it’s in this pain—for Mary and Martha and for us—that God chooses to grow our faith. It is in these spaces where what we’ve learned about God—who he is, how he acts, what he asks—can become very real. It’s here that the theoretical becomes concrete.
Consider this week’s One Big Question: What if the greatest pain in your life is also the greatest opportunity to grow more like the Christ? Discuss this with your small group or your family around the dinner table.
