“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3

There is a plan to the pain. Jesus stated, “every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” John 15:2. Sometimes there must be some cutting away; some loss and suffering, in order for there to be renewal and growth. Amidst such pain, there is greater awareness of our need to return to Yahweh; to “press on to know the LORD.”

There is increased pain in the world these days. Tensions are rising between nations, and there are areas of significant conflict, war, suffering, and death. These may portend earth’s final conflict, prior to the return of Jesus. But, beyond the world scene, there is private pain. Death’s tentacle reach brings profound grief to friends and families. Fractured relationships result in painful, agonizing isolation. The death of hopes and dreams leave deep emotional scars.

Pain is not without purpose if it stirs a deep yearning for our Creator Father. Whether through personal pain, or an awareness of the painful labor pains of life in the last days, now is the time to “Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD.” This current crisis cries to us to call upon the LORD with greater fervency than ever before. If ever there is a need for God’s people to draw near to their Creator, through His Son, that time is now. These are not “normal” times, such as we have known in the past. “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” Romans 13:12.

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