Emotional pain has a way of sinking deep into the corners of our souls and affecting our actions. Too often, when we are emotionally unwell, we seek to avoid what is causing us pain and attempt to numb the agony by turning to excessive shopping, drinking, eating, working, gambling, drugs and more. However, these distractions do not solve our problems. In the end, they only make the problems worse. If we do not work to better ourselves emotionally and address the underlying issues we face, they may lead us to depression.
Recently, I went to see the movie A Star is Born directed by and starring Bradley Cooper. Bradley’s character, Jackson Main, discovers and falls in love with a struggling artist, Ally, played by Lady Gaga. Their relationship is filled with great love and complexities. Jackson’s ongoing inner battle impacts everything he touches: his music career, relationships, and family. Jackson seeks to numb his pain with alcohol and drugs, only making things worse. Ally and his brother, Bobby, played by Sam Elliot, support him, but aren’t able to address his pain. It is up to him to tackle his demons—to truly identify what is causing the pain and find healing.
In life, we must all face our own pain and find the courage to seek help. If not, it will get the best of us. Everyone lives with some form of pain. In her book, From Tears To Triumph, author Marianne Williamson wrote, “Just as a broken leg requires resetting the bone; so too emotional pain requires resetting our thinking.” The pain we feel in life plays an important role in the human experience. When we face our pain from the inside out, we can learn to live with intention and compassion. In order to do so, we may need to turn to others for help. Thankfully, we are never alone. God, our church family, community and trained professionals are always available to help; we just need to know when to ask for it. There is always hope. We just need to take the steps in order to better ourselves.
Lord, give us courage to tend to our pain; heal us.
