He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Isaiah 53:3

There is an old spiritual that has the words, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen; Nobody knows my sorrow.” There is a reality in those words because no one can walk in my shoes and really understand my emotions surrounding a particular event or set of circumstances. Nor am I able to comprehend another’s sorrow.

Isaiah’s words remind me that Christ knows. He knows my trouble, my sorrow. My pain. My suffering. That is really hard for me to fathom at times, especially because sorrow and trouble have the power to make me feel isolated and rejected. I know Christ was rejected and had sorrow, but not my sorrow! Not the pain when my friend or loved one dies. Not the sorrow as I listen, read and watched the events of last Friday or what the Johnson family is experiencing. Not my pain at losing a job. Not my pain from hurtful words. Part of me wants no one to know my pain because that somehow will less what I feel.

Yet.

Christ knew ALL pain. Felt ALL pain. Bore ALL pain.

He came that we might have eternal life.

Not pain.

I need to remember this is a broken world. One broken by and ravaged by the evil one. I must not let the brokenness of the world overcome and weaken me. If anything I must use the struggles I see and encounter as a springboard to be a better witness. I need to remember these words from Hebrews 12:1-3 –

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“