Date: 04/03/2023

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. This month’s word is “Hurt”.

Saints and friends in life we will suffer pain and hurts.  As Christians we can be hurt naturally and spiritually. You may be hurting and still wearing a smile on your face. Hurt leads to bitterness, depression, and resentment. These are the tools of Satan that will keep us from a relationship with God. Today, we live in a fallen and imperfect world; and we need to know how to handle the hurts which come into our lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Sometimes it’s an accident, or it could be intentional damage.  The bottom line is we all experience hurt. But  Jesus Christ is the answer to all hurt.

 Jeremiah 8:22 reads, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?” Jeremiah also mentions the balm of Gilead as part of instructions from God in Jeremiah 46:11, “Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.” God’s Word  never represents just one thing or wisdom for one period. If He did, the Bible would lose its meaning for generations (past, present, and future). Hence, the all-powerful healing balm is the sacrificial love, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:21 tells us, “…for he shall save his people from their sins”. Jesus serves as our advocate in heaven (1 John 2:1).  When we sin and ask for forgiveness in His name, He covers our sins by His blood (Hebrews 4:14-16) and transforms us by His grace. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Jesus Christ can heal us from all hurt, brokenness, depression, wrongdoings, suffering, and pain.

When experiencing hurt we must turn to God first. Why? He is the father of compassion and the God of all comfort. II Corinthians 1:4-7 reads, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. ⁶ And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷ And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation”. Verse 3-4a tells us we are to turn to God first, because He will comfort us in our troubles. But did you notice why He comfort us. It’s in verse 4. So, we can comfort those who are hurting, going through trials, and tribulations. God never give us anything for our benefit only. No, He gives us things and He blesses us for the purpose of benefiting and blessing others. He blesses us with spiritual blessings, so that we can  in turn bless others.

In closing, remember when you are hurting, all of us who are God’s children are to be living testimonies. We should elicit deep emotions about the faithfulness of God through our troubles and hurts. We need to remind each other of God’s faithfulness. And motivate each other to stay the course. Until next week, remember “…with God. all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop