Pain & Promise

#27

Friend,

Pain—> Promise.

This is the pathway of the beatitudes that Jesus gives.

• Blessed are the poor in spirit (Pain) —> For theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Promise)

• Blessed are those who mourn (Pain) —> For they shall be comforted (Promise)

• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst (Pain) —> For they shall be satisfied (Promise)

Part of the struggle of being human is that we tend to fixate on either pain or promise. We use other words for it though: optimism or pessimism.

I keep thinking about this quote, “I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!” Lesslie Newbigin

In this life there is both pain and promise, there is struggle and happiness. A full life dwells in pain and moves towards the promise. And ultimately the greatest promise is and forever will be:

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Love,

Aaron