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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is hope in unrelenting pain. Hope is the feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen through faith in God. An unrelenting pain is pain that is severely unbearable or that seems to have no reduction in the intensity of it. The theme can be rephrased as looking up to God for deliverance in a period of agony, suffering or adversity.

Job lost everything including his health and became the most sorrowful person at the time. Unfortunately, his friends’ words of consolation were rather a litany of acquisitions leveled against the integrity of Job and his relationship with God. His friends added insult to injury by creating the impression that Job might have sinned against God hence his suffering. Job continually maintained his integrity and sought the face of the Lord in hope even as he continued to endure his unrelenting pain. Job sometimes was overwhelmed by his unrelenting pain, “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.“ (Job 6:8-10)

Dear friend in the Lord we may experience unrelenting or severe pain or agony in our lives as a result of sickness, betrayal, accident or disappointment in a relationships and this may lead to a situation of despair as felt by Job. Job at one point preferred death to life because of the unrelenting pain he experienced. All the same, he had hope and understood the fact that God was in control of his life therefore he said “…I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” (Job 6:10). In other words, he continues to be faithful to God in times of pain. Unrelenting pain is part of life, it may come sooner or later. Jesus also experienced unrelenting pain during His betrayal, suffering and crucifixion yet His hope was in His Father when said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(Mark 14:36). God is present in our lives at all times including times of unrelenting pain. It is important to continually pray and endure in hope even as we await His will to be done in our lives during times of suffering or pain. No amount of anxiety or worry will ease our agony but hope and faith in our Lord sustains us to overcome the unrelenting pain or agony in our lives. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to overcome the anxiety caused by pain and teach us to accept unrelenting pain as part of our lives. Help us to endure unrelenting pain without losing hope in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is our perfect example in hope and endurance in times of unrelenting pain. Amen.