i guess pain is a part of life. in one passage of the Bible it says that suffering produces perseverance and stronger faith. while i belive that's true, i don't believe that God intended for us to have to suffer when he created us. some how when hard times come, God can turn them into good. i don't know how he does it, but he's sovereign, and i'll never understand that. he is good, i believe that. but, that doesn't mean we won't suffer. because people suffer. i suffer. i hurt. i ache. don't you? as i sat across from a friend last night, pouring out her wounded heart to me, my heart ached to see the tears in her eyes. my heart ached to hear about her wounds from the past, and her wounds being deepend right now. fear and sorrow gripped her. i felt helpless. i felt angry for her. we shared a bond. we have both suffered, and for that, we are connected to the soul. pain is unifying. pain is vulnerability. pain is being alone. pain sucks. but some how, some way, my Father can turn it into good. i know that to be true. it is true. but, if i had a choice, i would choose to never suffer again. only, i know it's not gonna happen that way. i feel like an 80 year old women sometimes. pain has aged me. but, it has also made me wiser. i am thankful that i am wiser. smarter. in a position to understand others who suffer. it gives me credit. but i am also guarded. protected. harder. my heart is wounded. my spirit broken. but i am strong. Christ in me. He is my strength. He is my healer, and friend, i know he will heal you, too.