Pain Taker

Psalm 34:17–19 NKJV

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 CEB

3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. 4 He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.

Pain Taker

We all have scars, whether we admit it or not. Some people bear pain in the physical sense of the word. In contrast, others bear emotional or even spiritual wounds that are so much deeper. The world teaches us to push through it and put on a brave face, moving right along. But behind the scenes, that pain lingers. Sometimes it even grows. And before we know it, we are not just limping along but are carrying something so heavy that it is hard to see a way forward.

For a moment, imagine yourself carrying a backpack, and it feels manageable, very much like everyday life. Then, day in and day out, someone gives you a stone, and you put it in the bag. The first one is your fear—fear that life won't go as you had wished. Then comes another stone: a stone of loss—the heartbreak of losing someone you love or a missed opportunity.

Another rock—guilt, perhaps something from your past that you cannot get rid of. The rocks keep on coming: betrayal, disappointment, grief, failure. One by one, the rocks begin to fill your rucksack, and what seemed light at the start becomes too heavy to bear.

But you keep carrying it. You don't want to slow down; you don't want others to see your struggle, so you push through. The weight wears you down, and it seems never to get lighter.

We have all been there: maybe not carrying a real backpack, but the weight of our pain feels real. The emotional scars, the spiritual burdens, and the deep wounds we rarely expose to others, coloring how we live and think. The weight of sleepless nights, stolen joy, and anything—even simple—feeling hard.

But here's the good news: we don't have to carry that weight alone. Jesus is the great Pain Taker. He's the One who invites us to lay down our burdens and find healing and comfort in Him. He doesn't just remove our pain; He transforms it. He offers healing for the brokenhearted and rest for the weary.

Today, as we consider how Christ takes our pain and brings healing into our lives, I'd like to challenge you to reflect on what you've been carrying, hiding, or ignoring. Christ calls us to bring those things to Him … to trust Him as the One who understands our deepest wounds and offers true healing.

Psalm 34:17–19 CEB

17 When the righteous cry out, the Lord listens; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous have many problems, but the Lord delivers them from every one.

Pain is an issue we all face, yet it remains one of the most challenging things to acknowledge. We live in a world that tells us to move our feelings of pain aside—to "move on," smile through the hurt, and put on faces that show everything is well. Though we all carry deep wounds, for healing to occur, there first must be a realization that there was pain.

This can be hard because to acknowledge pain often means to stop and deal with those things we've been trying to ignore:

Loss of a loved one.The pain of a broken relationship.Unresolved guilt over past mistakes.Even the emotional scarring of a traumatic childhood experience.

Whatever form it takes, unrecognized pain doesn't disappear; it festers. And we continue to carry that burden until we bring it into the light.

God Is Close to the Brokenhearted

A beautiful assurance of that is given in Psalm 34:17–19 "17 When the righteous cry out, the Lord listens; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous have many problems, but the Lord delivers them from every one."

Here's the bottom line: God hears our cries, sees our pain, even when we're trying to bury it, and draws near to the brokenhearted.

That means that when we acknowledge our pain and cry out to God, He is not distant or detached but close. He cares deeply about the pain we have been carrying, and He is ready to bring healing.

But first, we need to take that step of recognizing our pain and bringing it to Him.

Pain can be like a leaky roof. The small drip it creates at first is hardly noticed; if unaddressed, that leak will grow. The water will seep into the walls, creating mold, weakening the foundation, and eventually causing severe damage.

Just like ignoring pain, we can push it away for a time, but indeed it does seep into our lives and into each one of those areas. Pain touches our relationships with people and, in so many ways, our emotional and spiritual health. Just as a leaky roof leads to massive repairs if ignored, unspoken pain will harm one's heart unless brought to God.

Recognizing Our Pain

We need to recognize pain in our lives in three key areas.

Emotional Pain

This could be sadness, fear, depression, or unresolved conflict that gnaws at them. It is so much easier to bottle these emotions up inside. Still, God invites us to name our feelings and bring them into His presence. He is not afraid of our anger, sorrow, or fear. The Psalms were cries of deep emotion; David repeatedly cried out to God from a place of anguish.

Nearly everyday at my work, I talk with someone who has been struggling with emotional pain. Sadly for them, they turned to alcohol or drugs for relief from that pain, but they did not find the relief they were looking for.

Think about the emotional weight you are carrying. Are there any areas of sorrow that you've suppressed? Are you carrying anxiety alone? God invites you to bring those emotions to Him, to make them known.

Relational Pain

Sometimes, the deepest wounds come from people we love or broken relationships. Pain in the form of betrayals, divorces, rejections, or unresolved conflicts leaves us with scars that we often bear for many years.

Consider the relationships in your life that have caused you pain. Is there a relationship that needs healing? Does forgiveness need to be offered or received? Recognizing this pain is the first step toward reconciliation.

Spiritual Pain

Sometimes, we may feel quite removed from God—even mad or bewildered by His plan for our lives. Spiritual pain may come from an unanswered prayer, a disappointment in life, or an extended season of struggle.

Take a moment and reflect on your relationship with God. Are you harboring hurt or resentment toward God? Have you let circumstances create distance or disconnection in your fellowship with Him? You can be honest before God about why your soul struggles. He is close to the brokenhearted and wants to heal your soul.

One of the most powerful things we can do in our walk with God is to name our pain. There's something healing about saying, "I'm hurting. I am broken. I need help." Naming our pain opens the door for God to work within it. The enemy wants us to keep pain hidden, to stay silent, and to pretend everything is all right.

But Jesus invites us to bring that pain into the light, where healing can begin.

Once we acknowledge our pain, the next step is to bring it to the One who can heal. And for that, there's Jesus. He is the Pain Taker, He who does not simply comfort us but actually steps into our pain with us and transforms it. We're going to look at how Christ is present in our pain and can even redeem painful situations.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 CEB

3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. 4 He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.

Jesus feels our pain.

When we are suffering, it is easy to feel alone. We think, "No one else could possibly understand what I'm going through." However, according to Scripture, Jesus knows the pain we experience. He not only knows it, but He has been through it himself.

Jesus is not detached from our pain; He is genuinely compassionate and intimately familiar with it. He is known as the "Father of Compassion and God of All Comfort." This means that when we bring our pain to Jesus, we give it to the One who can and desires to soothe us.

The Compassion of Christ in experienced in three ways

Christ feels our pain.

Isaiah 53:3-4 tells us that Jesus was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He bore the weight of our sins and sufferings on the cross. He has felt the full range of human pain—physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Knowing that you are not alone can be soothing during a difficult time. Jesus went the same route. He understands the pain of loss, betrayal, isolation, and physical pain. He is not just aware of your pain; he feels it alongside you.

Consider a parent soothing their child who has fallen and skinned their knee. The parent does not simply stand by and watch; they hurry to the child, pick them up, and hold them close. When a child gets injured, it breaks the parent's heart. Similarly, Christ rushes to our aid in our suffering—not to observe but to console and heal.

Christ carries our pain.

Matthew 11:28-30 is one of the most comforting chapters in the Bible, with Jesus saying, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Jesus urges us to bring our burdens to him. He does not expect us to bear the burden of our suffering alone. Instead, He offers to take the pain upon Himself.

Jesus asks you to bring whatever load you carry—emotional, physical, or spiritual—to Him. You do not have to carry it alone. He grants you rest, not just from the weight of the world but also from the load of your soul.

Picture someone struggling to carry a large load up a mountain, their legs shaking under the strain. Suddenly, a strong, experienced guide approaches them and offers to carry the burden. This is what Jesus does for us. He takes on our pain and carries it Himself. He doesn't simply watch us struggle; he gets involved.

Christ comforts and equips us to comfort others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 shows that Christ not only comforts us in our sorrows but also equips us to comfort others. When we bring our pain to Christ, He sees it as a chance to use us to minister to others.

When Christ comforts us, He does so with purpose. He heals us so that we can be a source of healing and comfort to people around us. When we experience Christ's compassion, we can extend that compassion to others who are suffering.

Think of a person who has experienced a terrible illness or the death of a loved one. After they've experienced Christ's comfort, they are often the first to reach out to others experiencing similar pain. God utilizes our grief and healing to help others. The comfort that we receive is intended to be shared.

Why Does Christ's Compassion Matter in Our Healing?

Christ does not just remove pain; He redeems it. When Jesus enters our pain, He does more than heal it; He transforms it into something beneficial for others. According to Romans 8:28, "In all things, God works for the good of those who love him." Christ's compassion is more than simply a bandage; it is a redemptive work that draws good out of even the darkest situations.

Healing is a process, and Christ walks beside us. Healing is not always immediate or quick, but Christ is with us during the entire journey. His compassion is ongoing—it is not a one-time occurrence but rather a persistent presence in our misery.

Christ's compassion is personal. Jesus does not provide a distant, generic comfort. His sympathy is personalized and intimate. He understands your particular anguish, burdens, and needs. He meets you where you are, providing the exact comfort you require.

Trust Jesus With Your Pain. this week, spend time praying to Jesus about your pain. Be specific about what you are experiencing. Trust Him with your pain, whether emotional, physical, or spiritual. Ask Him to bear your burden and comfort you with His love.

Remember that Christ understands your pain and is with you as you go through difficult times. Memorize Matthew 11:28-30 and refer to it when stressed, reminding yourself that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Extend compassion to others. Look for ways to comfort others who are grieving around you. Ask God to utilize the comfort you've experienced to provide healing and hope to others. This could be listening to someone's troubles, offering words of support, or simply praying for them.

Now that we've looked at how Jesus feels and carries our grief, the next step is to recognize that God often uses our pain to accomplish a greater purpose. Jesus not only heals our wounds, but He uses them to shape and strengthen us, as well as helping others. Next, we'll look at how God uses our grief to bring good into our lives.

Healing Through Pain

Romans 8:28 (NIV). And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his will.

Our initial instinct when we're experiencing pain is to ask God to take it away. We want relief right now, so it makes sense to believe that healing means the absence of pain. But God operates in different ways. Though He promises to use it for good, God does not always take away our pain right away. The paradox of Christian healing is that the very scars that cause us pain could turn into places where God's grace shines most clearly.

God wastes no suffering or pain. Instead, He uses it to shape us and frequently brings out something beautiful. In God's hands, healing is about transformation rather than only comfort.

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word," says Psalm 119:67. Sometimes, it's through pain that we draw closest to God. We are more receptive to God's presence and His work when we are broken. Pain separates our self-reliance and motivates us to pursue God's strength.

Romans 5:3–4 reminds us, "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Pain is not wasted in the hands of God. It develops spiritual power within of us and helps to define our character. Pain teaches us endurance.

Think about how previous experiences have strengthened your faith. In retrospect, what suffering or grief you have gone through has helped you grow into a stronger, more faith-filled person? Trials help us hone traits that enable us to be more like Christ.

God comforts us in our problems so that we can comfort others with the same consolation we have gotten. Often, the very thing that wounded us becomes the tool God uses to heal others. Your greatest suffering may produce your best ministry.

One of the most challenging things is surrendering our pain to God and trusting Him to use it for good. Though it is difficult to see the reason in the middle of suffering, He promises to work it out for our good and His glory when we entrust our suffering in His hands.

One of the most beautiful images of how God works through pain is the image of the potter and the clay. Jeremiah 18:1–6 describes God as a potter shaping and molding us. Sometimes, the clay needs to be squeezed, kneaded, and even reshaped during the process. The pressure and the spinning on the wheel may seem uncomfortable, but the potter has a purpose. He is creating something very beautiful.

In the same way, God uses our pain to mold us. The pressure we feel in times of suffering is not without purpose. God is forming us into a vessel for His glory, which will mirror His grace and goodness. Your pain is not wasted. God is creating something beautiful with it.

We may not always understand why we experience pain, but we can trust that God is with us in the midst of it. He is not only compassionate and close to the brokenhearted but actively works to bring good out of our suffering. He heals us through the very wounds that once hurt us. Our pain becomes where God's power is most evident, where His grace is most transformative.

Step into Healing

Today, we've discussed the reality of pain. We've acknowledged that many of us are walking through wounds—some that have been there for years, others that are fresh and raw. But we've also talked about a God who doesn't leave us in our pain, a God who invites us to come to Him and experience healing.

And now, as we come to the end of this message, there's a moment of decision before us. Jesus is standing before you today with an invitation to step out from the weight of your pain and into His healing.

You've been carrying these burdens for so long, maybe not even realizing how heavy they've become. But today, you have the opportunity to lay them down at the feet of the One who can truly take your pain and turn it into something beautiful.

The first step in the healing process is to recognize your need for it—to admit that pain needs to be healed. The next step is to bring that pain to Jesus. He has already promised to be your Pain Taker, Comforter, and Healer. He's already carried the weight of your suffering on the cross, and today, He's offering you the freedom that comes from surrendering your pain to Him.

But here's the challenge: healing requires a step of faith. It requires trusting Jesus with your wounds and believing He will restore them. It may not happen instantly, but healing begins in His presence.

So, here's the question: Will you take that step today? Will you step out of the familiar place of carrying your pain alone and allow Jesus to bring healing into your life? You don't have to carry it anymore. You don't have to fight this battle alone.

Jesus is saying to you, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." He's not asking you to figure it all out on your own. He's asking you to bring Him your pain, burdens, and wounds. He's ready to comfort you and heal you, but He's waiting for you to take that step.

Think about the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-9. This man had been sick for 38 years. Day after day, he lay beside the pool, waiting for someone to help him. But then Jesus asked him a powerful question: "Do you want to get well?"

It seems like an obvious question, but it requires the man to choose. Jesus offered healing, but the man had to step into it. When the man responded in faith, Jesus told him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."

That same question is before us today. Do you want to get well? Jesus is offering healing, but we must choose to take that step toward Him.

Today, I invite you to respond if you're ready to step into the healing that Jesus offers. It could be coming forward for prayer or simply sitting in your seat and opening your heart to Jesus, asking Him to take the pain you've been carrying.

Whatever it looks like for you, don't leave here today without taking that step of faith. Don't carry your burdens out of this place. Jesus is here. He's inviting you to step into healing, to trust Him with your pain, and to experience the freedom that only He can bring.