"Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain."- Ecclesiastes 1:18
This verse has become more relevant the longer I've been in school. Learning is painful. Yes, studying can be mentally draining, the late hours physically exhausting, but becoming more informed of the world around me, that increases pain and grief.
Studying has opened my eyes to the brokenness of this world. Lately, I've been doing quite a bit of research on abused children and how as a future teacher I can help children who are or have been abused. Let me tell you, reading multiple articles on this topic and spending hours researching it is painful. When the writer of Ecclesiastes says that in much wisdom there is much grief, he wasn't just making up a lighthearted comment to throw around, he knew what he was talking about.
Increased knowledge and wisdom increases pain and grief. I have felt pain and cried as I sat reading article after article on children suffering undeserved abuse. I've felt pain and grief as my eyes are opened and I begin seeing what a sinful and hurting world we live in. But with the pain and grief also comes an amplified knowledge of what it means for Christ to be the Redeemer of the world.
Jesus Christ was the one who bore all the sin of the world, all that sin that I am reading about, He took it upon Himself in order to purify and bring to Himself His children. And that gives me hope. The fact that God is a God who forgives, loves, heals the broken, and act justly, gives me hope. And the fact that I am redeemed by Jesus' blood and can tell others of the hope and peace that is in Christ – that is exciting!
As I go back to reading and studying more of the brokenness around me, I'm reminded that one day Christ will return and, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Christ is our Redeemer and there is so much hope and joy in that. I just pray that God continues to open my eyes to the pain and suffering around me and that in opening my eyes He gives me a heart of compassion to lead the suffering to true rest in Him.
This verse has become more relevant the longer I've been in school. Learning is painful. Yes, studying can be mentally draining, the late hours physically exhausting, but becoming more informed of the world around me, that increases pain and grief.
Studying has opened my eyes to the brokenness of this world. Lately, I've been doing quite a bit of research on abused children and how as a future teacher I can help children who are or have been abused. Let me tell you, reading multiple articles on this topic and spending hours researching it is painful. When the writer of Ecclesiastes says that in much wisdom there is much grief, he wasn't just making up a lighthearted comment to throw around, he knew what he was talking about.
Increased knowledge and wisdom increases pain and grief. I have felt pain and cried as I sat reading article after article on children suffering undeserved abuse. I've felt pain and grief as my eyes are opened and I begin seeing what a sinful and hurting world we live in. But with the pain and grief also comes an amplified knowledge of what it means for Christ to be the Redeemer of the world.
Jesus Christ was the one who bore all the sin of the world, all that sin that I am reading about, He took it upon Himself in order to purify and bring to Himself His children. And that gives me hope. The fact that God is a God who forgives, loves, heals the broken, and act justly, gives me hope. And the fact that I am redeemed by Jesus' blood and can tell others of the hope and peace that is in Christ – that is exciting!
As I go back to reading and studying more of the brokenness around me, I'm reminded that one day Christ will return and, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Christ is our Redeemer and there is so much hope and joy in that. I just pray that God continues to open my eyes to the pain and suffering around me and that in opening my eyes He gives me a heart of compassion to lead the suffering to true rest in Him.
1 comment:
Amen. This is really good, Hannah. And so true.
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