Hurting Him

There are times in life when something crystallizes in your mind. Sometimes it might be an insignificant detail but at other times, it hits you like a ton of bricks. Often, these realizations are not a brand new thought but an increased awareness or consciousness of something you’ve known all along. 

I had one of those moments this past weekend at Challenge Youth Conference. It was a blessing to be able to help chaperone our youth group at this great event. Part of that blessing is getting to hear the lessons prepared to help build the faith of our young people, but they build the faith of older people, too! At the end of the Saturday evening, we focused on the cross in a unique way. After singing the song “Feel the Nails,” we watched a short, but powerful video that focused on the sounds of the crucifixion. 

For some reason, that was my crystallizing moment. As I listened to a portrayal of our Savior’s pain and anguish, I couldn’t get the following line from the song out of my head: “I just can’t bear the thought of hurting Him.”

It’s not a new thought. I don’t want to sin. I want to please God. But for some reason, that thought–paired with the sounds of suffering–gave me a new resolve to do what is right because I can’t bear the thought of hurting Him. Hold onto bitterness? Not if it hurts Jesus. Choose worldly pursuits or spiritual ones? Not if it hurts Jesus. I just can’t bear that thought. Can you?

“Can He still feel the nails, every time I fail? Can He hear the crowd cry ‘Crucify!’ again? Am I causing Him pain? Then I know I’ve got to change. ‘Cause I just can’t bear the thought of hurting Him.” ~Ray Boltz

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AUTHOR: Amber Tatum