Inviting God Into Our Pain

PainHealingSufferingChristian Living
Written By Arykah Luzi

Photo courtesy of Magnific.

Many of us are no strangers to painful situations. Whether the struggle is sudden and overwhelming or a complicated circumstance that seems to stretch on without resolution, pain can leave us feeling exposed and vulnerable. In these moments, it can be tempting to push away difficult emotions and hide our brokenness from others. We may feel pressured by ourselves, others, or cultural narratives to “push through” as a sign of mental and spiritual toughness. What if healing does not necessitate toughness? What if it begs for tenderness instead? Scripture invites us to bring our pain honestly to God rather than burying it. In Philippians 4:4-9, the Apostle Paul gives us three movements that help us invite God into our pain: praise, prayer, and practicing truth.

Praise

In verse 4, Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord. When suffering, this can seem like an unrealistic task. However, rejoicing in the Lord is not a feeling, but a choice to widen our perspective and remember God’s goodness while acknowledging our pain. One way to do this is by practicing gratitude. Research suggests that gratitude can improve both our physical and mental well-being (Salamon, 2024). This could include noticing the things that make us smile, appreciating kindness from others, or recognizing circumstances in our lives that provide comfort. When we choose to rejoice by practicing gratitude, we can remember that suffering does not erase God’s peace from our lives. 

Pray 

Paul continues his letter by encouraging us to make our requests known to God in verse 6. Being honest about our needs and desires is important to the health of our relationships (Senol et al., 2023). We don’t have to limit this exchange to our relationships with other people. God also allows us to ask Him for what we need and doesn’t require us to water down our experience with platitudes or caveats. Prayers in painful circumstances can sound more raw and honest: “Lord, why is this happening?” or “How long is it going to be this way?” These prayers are not a sign of weak faith, but of genuine relationship with God who promises to give us inexplicable peace over our suffering. Similar to gratitude, having peace does not negate or ignore the pain of our situation. It simply means that we are not a prisoner to these circumstances, and that we can find freedom in connection with our Father. 

Practicing Truth

Finally, Paul addresses how we think and live, instructing us to think about noble, good, true, and praiseworthy things and to put these truths into practice. Our minds have the tendency to solidify and narrativize our painful experiences into inaccurate negative beliefs called “cognitive distortions” that can lead to anxiety, depression, and harmful behaviors (Friedman, 2023). This can look like believing that the presence of suffering means that God has abandoned us or that the pain will never end. These distortions can be challenged when we apply truth to them. Practicing truth may involve replacing thoughts of fear with God’s promises or choosing faithful actions even when our emotions are heavy. By practicing truth consistently, we can better address our painful circumstances with thoughts and behaviors that ultimately bring us closer to the Lord.

Suffering can tempt us to harden ourselves for a chance to survive. Yet, Philippians 4:9 gives a declaration that allows us to remain tender before the Lord: “the God of peace will be with you.” God promises to remain with us in our tribulations. By praising, praying, and practicing truth, we can invite God into the very places that we would otherwise hide away. As we walk honestly in our pain, we can rest in His peace, knowing that even in our brokenness, we are never alone. 

References
Arykah Luzi
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