Where is God when we hurt?
When my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I struggled to embrace the peace Jesus promised. (See John 14:27.) My feelings were all over the map as I wondered what good could come out of such an upsetting situation.
Maybe you have encountered seasons where it felt like God didn’t show up or that He allowed something devastating to happen. Even in these times, God can receive glory, and our faith can be strengthened as we trust His purposes over what makes sense to us.
Jesus knew the pain of loss. His friend Lazarus got sick and died. In John 11, we read that Jesus was “deeply moved in his spirit” (v. 33). He was not apathetic. He shared in the common feeling of grief with those He loved. Death angered Him, and its painful effects grieved Him. He expressed human emotions, including tears. (See v. 35.) He wasn’t the only one hurting. Martha asked questions; Mary wept; the mourners cried; and Jesus entered into their pain.
Jesus knows the losses you have experienced and longs to enter into your pain as well. He understands your humanity because He put on flesh and dwelt among us. (See John 1:14.)
I sometimes avoid strong emotions, stuffing them down or reasoning them away. This passage validates that feelings aren’t sinful or a measure of faith. Give yourself biblical permission to express feelings — whether they are celebratory, apathetic, or overflowing grief. Jesus didn’t lack faith: He just felt and expressed human emotions.
My dad only lived 29 days after His cancer diagnosis. He was a Christ-follower, so I know he is more alive today than ever. Yet this season has been filled with all sorts of emotions. When we grieve, the pain can feel pointless. But God’s purposes are always good, even when our circumstances are not.
Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus revealed Himself as the source of resurrection life. When we contemplate death — our own or those we love — we can feel all our feelings and still hold onto our faith. We can savor peace knowing we pass from life to life if we belong to Jesus.
We can feel all our feelings and still hold onto our faith.
In The Gospel of John Bible study, Melissa Spoelstra will encourage you to slow down and linger with the living Word. You’ll appreciate the pace of the Savior who never hurried but completed all that the Father called Him to accomplish. Over 7 sessions, you’ll be challenged to take on the posture of a learner—understanding that the peace Jesus offers is not an ease of circumstances, but a stillness of the soul. As a result, you’ll grow in intimacy with Him and learn to live, serve, and rest in His peace.
ABOUT MELISSA SPOELSTRA
Melissa has a degree in Bible theology and is the author of many Bible studies including The Gospel of John: Savoring the Peace of Jesus in a Chaotic World. Melissa enjoys spending time with her pastor husband, Sean, and their four adult children.
