Turning Pain into a Seed

As a pastor, I hear tremendous stories of pain. It can be easy to be overwhelmed by the sufferings that we experience in this life. Not everyone lays on a bed of roses. Sometimes, it can feel like a bed of thorns.

When someone walks into my office, shares their pain and shows signs of despondency, I share the scriptures and my story. Sometimes, there are no easy answers. Sometimes, it appears there is no remedy for the wrongs done to us.

The great Psalmist, Asaph, in Psalm 73, shares his story of pain in a song. The wicked appear to be prospering while he is being chastened. Life is hard, says the Psalmist. He paints a picture in song of what he thinks is God’s unfairness.

The women who had children who were butchered during Herod’s reign: all they wanted were their babies. Jeremiah, in prophecy, states their response: “Rachel, weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Jer. 31:15.

Uriah, a honorable man, has his superior lust for and sleep with his beautiful wife. She becomes pregnant by that man. That man seeks to cover his sin through deception. When that plan fails, he seeks, and does, kill Uriah. Nathan the prophet speaking to king David says to him, “thou art the man”. 2 Sam. 12:7. David is punished by God. But Uriah is dead. Who speaks for Uriah?

Recently, I was reading the story of a black man who was wrongly convicted of murder. After 24 years in jail, his conviction is overturned and he is freed. The Justice system’s response: We’re sorry! We acted in good faith. But the police misconduct and lack of real judicial oversight were anything but “good faith”.

When situations like this happen in life, we have a choice: Do we believe? Or, will we disbelieve? The pain often causes men and women to blindly choose the path of unbelief, which only leads to further pain. For me, I have chosen faith in God.

Instead of trying to right all the wrongs done to me, I have chosen to turn my pain into a seed, something that I can place in the hands of my loving Father. As Jesus said to His Father, I say to my God and Father, “into Your hands”, Lk. 23:46, I place my pain. That is my precious seed.

The Psalmist, recognizing this reality, says, “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.” Ps. 126:6, New Heart English Bible.

Yes, we can turn our pain into a seed. Yes, we can place that precious seed into the Father’s loving hands. Yes, I believe that the Father, like us, weeps over that precious seed.

Only God can take those unjust situations that we face and turn them into something great. Only God can restore what was lost. Only God can turn horrors that we experience into hope. Our choice is to take that pain and turn it into a seed.

-Scott Wallis