A Letter to a Hurting Christian

When life hits you hard...

Dear Hurting Christian,

I know you’re not having a good day. Maybe it has been a long time since you had a “good” day. I can’t imagine what you’re going through at this moment. However, I know this: you have a lot of questions. And instead of just bringing those life-sucking questions to God, it feels natural to question God:

“Why, God...?”

“Why me...?”

“Why now...?”

“Don’t You care...?”

Maybe you planned something good, but it brought something bad. Maybe you find yourself stuck in a position you did not create. Or perhaps, when you reached out your hand to help others, they deserted you. Perhaps this time, the tornado of troubles is taking its toll. Or maybe the weight of the depression is too much to bear. Perhaps you don’t even feel like opening the Bible in the midst of this. If that’s you, let me assure you that it is normal to feel this way at times.

I understand that you are hurting, my friend. Life is hitting you hard. To add salt to the wounds, hope is nowhere to be found; all hope seems lost. The day is as dark as night.

But in the middle of it, remember this: while you might be hurting right now, you are also a Christian.

Remember that you are never without hope—because the source of all hope is in you: the Holy Spirit. Are you feeling that your heart has been broken, torn apart, left in pieces? Do you feel that your spirit is crushed by all the darkness of this world? Know this: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Do you feel like God is nowhere to be found? Rest assured that God is never nearer than now. C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Perhaps nothing helps us hear God’s voice more clearly than pain.

Take your hurt and your wounds to the Healer. Why drown in the sea of questions when your Savior walks on these troubling waters, waiting to comfort you?

I am not saying you’ll find all the answers, at least not on this side of heaven. The pain might go away, but the wounds may remain. Nonetheless, take heart, for the One who has all the answers is with you, and He knows what He is doing.

I understand that it is hard to trust God when you don’t see Him or feel Him. But know that He loves you more than anyone ever will! He loves you too much to leave you like this. After all, isn’t it better to go through this with God than without Him?

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:11

May the Lord help you get through this. God bless you.