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Pain, Pain Go Away

Sometimes I wonder why things happen the way they do. I want to know God’s plan in detail, specifically after a tragedy. I can’t help it, but I question when affliction grips the heart of those I love the most. To make matters worse, I wrestle with possible explanations so that I can come up with a quick fix for the pain. I want a good reason so that the suffering will make sense.


Sometimes I wonder why things happen the way they do. I want to know God’s plan in detail, specifically after a tragedy. I can’t help it, but I question when affliction grips the heart of those I love the most. To make matters worse, I wrestle with possible explanations so that I can come up with a quick fix for the pain. I want a good reason so that the suffering will make sense.

My quest for answers usually takes an ugly turn before I come to my senses. Waiting occurs, frustration sets in and doubt takes over. I shake my head in disbelief and then I make an unspoken deal with God. I figure if I read scripture more, pray harder and give more, I’ll get some answers. The silence continues and God gently reminds me that no matter what I do, I cannot reason pain away. At that point, I realize the importance of trusting God.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.” I realize that my finite mind will never grasp the infinite mind of God. Even now, I find it difficult to fully understand His grace, His love and the fact that He calls me friend.

One thing I know for certain, God is good. He stays close to His own, He gives more than what we expect and He provides perfect comfort. As His children we find hope in His promises. We can feel certain that even in the darkest times in our lives we will find Him faithful. We can put our trust in knowing He has us in the palms of His hands. And nothing will snatch us out of His grip. No one or nothing can separate us from His love. Soon, very soon, Jesus will return to take us home where there will be no more pain, no more sadness and no more tears. Come Lord Jesus, please come quickly.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.” Revelation 21:1-4

Raquel Wroten (MAMC, Dallas Theological Seminary) was born in McAllen, Texas but has lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area most of her life. Raised by a single mother, Raquel grew up knowing the meaning of diversity, creativity, and chaos through her four brothers and three sisters. The greatest gift she ever received came from her mother who taught her that living as a believer doesn’t mean perfection, it means grace. Raquel met her husband Rick at a church retreat in Oklahoma on a cold November weekend. They dated for a year and got married in June 1992. A couple of years later, Rick graduated with his ThM, and they welcomed Joshua. . .then Abby. . .and surprise, it’s Anna! Intermixing their cultures, the Wrotens have established a variety of traditions along with interesting combinations of food. Raquel believes that ministry begins at home so she finds new ways of serving those she calls her own. Raquel serves as editor of DTS Magazine and enjoys writing (in English, Spanish and Spanglish), cooking, coffee, education and serving up a feast for her friends and family.

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