Suffering is something most anyone is acquainted with on some level and at some time in their life. Even the smallest suffering can be all-consuming. My pastor refers to it as the “frame of pain".” This is the framed-out world that consumes our focus when there is pain. If you hit your thumb with a hammer while hanging a picture, your focus narrows quickly to your thumb. The hammer might be dropped, the picture for the wall is tossed aside and your whole body might even curl and shake as your focus narrows.
The psalmist is in great pain as he pens Psalm 22. More so, Jesus our Savior is in great pain as He fulfills the prophetic words of this psalm.
Take time to pray and ask the Lord to teach us.
Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus, my Savior. Teach me more about Yourself as I lean into your Word. Amen
Lean in and examine the Scripture with me as we seek to know God better through Psalm 22:14-18.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Such descriptive, disturbing images the psalmist paints here. As we consider the words as prophesy that Jesus endured in place of you and me as sinners, and words that a weary, pained psalmist wrote, we can notice a beautiful lesson. Even in the excruciating pain he is describing, the psalmist (and Jesus) still turned to God.
These are words of desperate prayer.
Read the verses again. Enter into the ache of them. In these moments do you and I turn to God?
As we seek to know Jesus and fellowship with Him in suffering, am I turning to Him in said suffering? Or even in small pains, do I turn to numbing agents such as my phone, food or drink?
How today can you and I choose to turn every pain over to the One who suffered most for us to be loved eternally? For me, it is simply being aware throughout the day to pause and pray. Each time I turn my heart to God, I am more aware of what I am trying to carry without Hima nd can lay it (sometimes repeatedly) at His feet.
He is indeed a great God even in our great suffering.