What Happens When We Ignore the Pain

I received such a sad message this week that one of my son’s friends died at his workplace. I couldn’t believe it – he was only 34 years young. As of today, the cause isn’t known.

Tonight was the viewing, and as soon as I saw his mom we embraced. I sensed that she was still in shock, but it’s possible she ran out of tears for the time being.

After we talked in the entrance, my husband and I walked around — looking at all the photos they had on display. Such a short life to be captured on the boards along the way.

As we walked up to the casket, I felt his mom’s presence once again. She had walked up behind me and began to explain what she knew. She said,”He had been complaining of chest pains for a couple weeks, but he thought it was something like pleurisy.” Her explanation stopped there and that’s when my thoughts drifted off — trying to imagine what she is thinking and feeling. All I could think of is how different things would be if he had taken the time to get the pain checked out.

Such a sad story for the ones left behind. Absolutely heartbroken are his wife and 3 daughters, mom and dad, and naturally — his friends.

As we walked out to our car, I couldn’t help but think how easy it is to dismiss those warning signs that indicate something is seriously wrong — physically, mentally or spiritually. Why do we do it?

How about you? Are you ignoring some warning signs that are trying to grab your attention? Life can be incredibly complicated, but God is incredibly good.

He just might be pursuing you — sending you messages through something painful — trying to reveal that something needs to heal, change, be plucked out of your life.

“If you aren’t willing to listen to everything God has to say, you eventually won’t hear anything He has to say. If you want to hear His comforting voice, you have to listen to His convicting voice. And it’s often what we want to hear least that we need to hear most.” ~Mark Batterson

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23