Connecting Point: Waste Not Fresh Tears Over Old Griefs

Monica’s first story is one of balance tragic. At 22 she brimmed with life. Her fiancée and she planned to go into ministry. Then suddenly he broke the engagement, and the rejection sent her into a spin. Having grown up a quiet girl and mostly introverted, uncomfortable around strangers, she withdrew and turned to comfort in alcohol. She met a man in the party scene, attempting to cope with past rejection—a manipulative predator. He took advantage of alcohol and her youth. Then abandoned her. For months her human prison of despair, darkness, and depression sunk her to the eve of suicide.

Befriended, she was still working and dependable, she acknowledged her weakness to a friend. And, thus, began the journey of healing. She acknowledged the unmet longings in her life. Healing often begins when we face pain. Here is a universal truth, we live in a broken world. Tragic events occur daily, and people’s lives are destroyed. The good news is hope. The Bible tells of ordinary men and women who faced unwanted pain—thus, showing us the way. Monica’s second story is about healing. Now, our scriptural connection.

David was referred to as a “runt or insignificant” by his father Jesse. Saul was so jealous of David; for seven years he followed him and tried to capture and kill him. Then again, David took advantage of Bathsheba and worse, then manipulated her husband Uriah’s death. David’s own son Absalom’s story of betrayal is as tragic as it gets. David cries about Absalom’s downfall. David’s daughter Tamar was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Absalom killed him.

So why despite all this tragedy could David write words of praise and thanksgiving? One reason is redemption which comes from God alone.

Regardless of our personal sins or the tragic events in our lives, we, like David, can speak about God’s faithfulness. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe…they were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress,” (Psalms 107:4-9).

In the Free to Thrive study series, Ben Bennett identifies two unwanted categories we may face: The first is attacks or aggressive actions done toward us. The second, is absences, losses, and unfulfilled needs. These unwanted or unexpected occurrences can affect us all to varying degrees. Rejection for one person may seem like nothing but for another person rejection can be life-altering. At the core of painful experiences, the truth is we all have unmet longings in our life. Remember, God created us with the desire to be loved, appreciated, and assured safety. If these and other basic needs are unmet, we can turn to other harmful experiences as a reality escape. Unwanted events also pop up in our lives which rob us of joy and fulfillment.

We all have a story to tell. The great tragedian Euripides, who composed his plays over a long life of almost 400 years B.C., perfected the theme called heroic redemption. He observed and then dramatized how extraordinary circumstances caused ordinary people to rise to the occasion of healing and new health. Christians are searchers through life, with certain solace in Jesus Christ. Learn to be open and share your story with others. It is redemption, and it makes us human. Jesus leads us to greater, and greater self-honesty.