We may think Jesus sympathizes with our pain and sickness, but Bridget reminds us that Jesus bore it as well.
“He was despised and rejected by mankind,a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5).
I just can’t handle this pain God. No one knows how much pain I’m in right now and I’m all alone.
Those were my thoughts just before Christmas as I endured a terrible spinal headache for two long weeks. I cried as I grabbed my Bible and opened to this passage in Isaiah.
This passage tells how Jesus took on our sin and sickness and it showed just how much Jesus endured on the cross. My tears were flowing as I realized that Jesus indeed knew exactly how much I was suffering. I certainly was not alone in my pain! Jesus knew because on the cross he also suffered from many sicknesses. Without sin there wouldn’t have been any sickness or disease.
The particular Bible translation, Holman Christian Standard Bible, that I read, explained that famous Isaiah passage to me in a new way that restless night. I always knew that Jesus took on all my sin but I never realized just how sickness and pain fit into that as well. I read this passage over and over and over again during those rough days.
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him. Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.”
I now had a friend beside me who understood and felt my pain. Just typing these words bring tears to my eyes again.
I will never be able to fully explain just how much this Bible passage touched me those days, but I hope and pray this gives you comfort as you endure your own pain and struggles. Jesus knows our sicknesses friends. He really knows–not just in words, but His very own body felt our sicknesses. There is a friend who’s been through it all and He loves you and is walking beside you all the way.
Prayer: Oh, dear Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross and taking on all my sin and sicknesses. Help me to endure my pain as You know exactly what it is I’m going through. Amen.
About the Author
Bridget Gazlay resides in beautiful West Michigan. She struggles with fibromyalgia, endometriosis, IBS, kidney stones, and migraines. She works full time but writes and designs fabric art on the side. Bridget’s prayer is that anyone who comes across her writing or artwork would see she allows, “God’s creation to be my inspiration.” Find out more about Bridget at, http://www.pfccreations.com.
How does Scripture help you endure? Do you use one particular translation or do you read a variety to more fully understand the message?
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Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 