Meditation and Reflection on
Does God Understand My Pain?
Bible Reading & Meditation 
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Why are thou so far from helping me,
from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
Yet thou art holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In thee our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
To thee they cried, and were saved;
in thee they trusted, and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm, and no man;
they make mouths at me, they way their heads;
"He committed his cause to the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"
Yet thou art he who took me from the womb;
thou didst keep me safe upon my mother's breasts.
Upon thee was I cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near
and there is none to help.
You know what pain is like.
You know the torture of the scourge
upon your back,
the sting of the thorns upon your brow,
the agony of the nails in your hands.
You know what I'm going through just now.
Help me to bear my pain
gallantly, cheerfully and patiently,
And help me to remember
that I will never be tried
above what I am able to bear,
and that you are with me,
even in this valley of the deep dark shadow.
In ev'ry pang that rends the heart,
The Man of Sorrows had a part;
He sympathises with our grief,
And to the suff'rer sends relief. --William Barclay
Reflection/Contemplation
Ask for the gift to enter into the spirit of Jesus' passion, to share in his sorrow and anguish he endures for me. Contemplate Jesus on the cross, note his many sufferings. Hear the ridicule and accusations hurled at him. Focus your attention on Jesus' heart, his physical and spiritual center. Sink back into your chair, in the stillness and quiet concentrate all your energy of who you are in His heart.
Enter into the heart of Jesus as if into a room. Be aware of any images or feelings that surface as you enter into the heart of Jesus. Ask Jesus to show His love that allowed him to endure the suffering and humiliation of the cross. Open yourself to receive what Jesus is sharing with you...his heart of love. As you focus your attention on Jesus' heart, look inside to see....all your own sufferings and joys, desires to love and to be loved. See all those that you love, husband, wife, sisters, brothers, children, friends, parents. All those you are concerned for in this world--leaders of nations, the poor, the homeless, the prisoners. Imagine now the heart of Jesus as the center of love that draws all together in healing and unity. See the energy of His love expand and grow flowing to fill your heart, the hearts of others, and the entire world. And as your heart begins to fill with the love Jesus shows you, begin to focus on the thought that God does understand your pain and walks with you.
I write in my journal any thoughts or feelings I have experienced during this meditation and reflection.Prayer Focus
God's Promise to Us
Isaiah 43: 2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
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