for i wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that i have for you. [2 corinthians 2:4]

 

i’ve recently had the privilege of walking alongside someone that is working through some really deep pain that was caused by someone else’s sin. the effects of the other person’s sin have been boiling under the surface for a long time and are just now starting to come out and be recognized. this has led to a lot of realizations, tears, and late nights. working through all of these repercussions has been extremely difficult for my friend and challenging for the few people that are providing support as well. but the things the Lord is doing in the midst of all of this work are amazing. the healing, repentance, and brokenness have been beautiful.

hard does not always mean bad. and easy does not always mean good.

paul had to write a difficult letter to the christians in corinth and in this verse he is telling them he wrote that letter out of love for them. he didn’t want to see them stuck in their sin, so with tears he wrote them, not to hurt them, but to call them to something better.

i know this is just a short, five paragraph devotional writing (five-ish, i don’t know, i haven’t finished typing it yet…) but i believe God could use the time you spend reading and reflecting on it to do a lot of work. because while this might be a short devotional email, the word of God is piercing and cuts deep.

i would encourage you to sit in the presence of God today and not try to hide. not sweep things under the rug. not put on a pretty face. perhaps there is something you have been avoiding bringing to the Lord because you know dealing with it is going to be painful and difficult. maybe it’s your own sin. and maybe it’s pain that has been caused to you because of the sin of others. hard does not always mean bad. the Lord is capable and desires to forgive, heal, and redeem our brokenness.

 

and levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. and the pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

and Jesus answered them,

those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. i have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  [luke 5:29–32]

 

~ keith kozlowski