On my way to clean up after weeding, one late summer day, I yanked up a dead shrub. My shins suddenly burned like fire. I looked down and gasped. Scores of yellow jackets clung to my legs. I wondered if I was going to die.

That experience left me reluctant to garden in shorts and T-shirts. Ski masks and thick layers seemed safer. But heat and humidity changed my mind.

As a young believer, I thought mature faith protected us from emotional pain. Hurts, insults, and disappointments would ping off those full of faith.

[bctt tweet=”While God provides spiritual armor, I don’t believe the insulated Christian is biblical—or desirable. @DebbieWWilson ” username=”PatHolbrook”]

I was in high school when my mother died of cancer. My family put on a brave face during her long illness and pretended she would get better.

Years later, I realized how lonely that must have been for her. Instead of shielding us, our layers of pretense only added regret to our sorrow.

When I learned Daddy had terminal cancer, I prayed it would be different. I’d learned that masks, whether of denial, humor, or strength, don’t protect us from loss and pain.

On his deathbed, Daddy spoke of his pending death. We said good-bye and talked about the promised reunion we’ll share in heaven. We named family members we looked forward to seeing again. We laughed through our tears as we anticipated what we hoped to do in heaven.

That vulnerable exchange of grief and hope was one of the sweetest times in my life. And though I still grieved losing Daddy, sharing our pain sweetened the bitterness of my loss.

A man whose child was hospitalized with leukemia spoke at our church. He boasted, that while the medical staff expressed concern for his lack of grief, his faith made him impervious to pain. Denial is certainly a part of grief, but as I observed this stoic father, I thought how lonely his wife and family must feel in the sorrow his daughter’s suffering surely brought.

The Apostle Paul didn’t deny his sufferings. His faith gave him the courage to open his heart and receive God’s comfort. His experience qualified him to speak about the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3).

He told the Corinthians about the great pressure that caused him to “despair even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8 NASB).

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced” (2 Cor. 2:8 NIV).

Paul even cataloged some of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12.

It’s wise to be aware of yellow jacket nests. And long sleeves and gloves are appropriate for gardening, especially around thorns. But ski masks and thick clothing aren’t practical for warm weather yard work.

In the same way, not everyone can handle my pain, but being honest with God, myself, and some trusted friends is healing and a lot healthier than suffocating under layers of self-protection.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4 NIV).

Faith may not keep us from experiencing pain, but it comforts those who mourn. Is there a grief or a pending loss you need to mourn?

[bctt tweet=”Faith may not keep us from experiencing pain, but it comforts those who mourn. #RechargeWednesday” username=”PatHolbrook”]


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[bctt tweet=”Linkup party is open! Today, @DebbieWWilson shares a beautiful perspective on the fact that being vulnerable when we hurt is not a sign of weak faith. Join us? ” username=”PatHolbrook”]

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