Does our comfort contradict the CROSS?

I was reading a book this evening called, "Hope in the Dark". It's a book of photography and reflections about Africa. If you ever have the chance, take a half an hour and look/read through it. I began to read one page that said this,

"We walked along the dirt road to Muungano village where these words rested quietly on the brick wall next to a pharmacy shop. "What does Piny Pek mean?" I asked. "Heavy World," they said. As I dragged my feet along the gravel with my head down, I found myself asking, "Why, God?" He told me, "Broken world, daughter. Sin is real. Know and repent of your own, and then seek Justice and Love for my children. Do not lose hope, my child. Be an agent of mercy." And I slowly breathed in the stench, but allowed hope and God's promises of mercy and healing to remain. This peace that lies within me is one of ETERNAL PAIN but surpassing faith in God's ultimate desire to shower mercy in the heaviest and most broken places."

The last sentence was of particular confusing interest to me. Upon first reading it, in my head I picked up a problem. This peace is one of eternal pain? what?!? Wait. That must be a mistake. That could not be what God wanted...God would not cause us eternal pain. Would He? amidst thought I was halted by the spirit of God. God's will does not equal our COMFORT. I have been taught that the things of God are good. I have also been taught to provide and take care of myself, to get what I need to make sure I am taken care of. God must want me to have a great job that pays well so I can save and take the next Family vacation. God must want me to be happy and comfortable in a Great house, with a great life. But is that true? What about the rest of the world? What about the widows and orphans that God told us to take care of? did we think about them when we bought the bigger, prettier house that we wanted.

Something today is distraught in my head. Let's go back to this statement, what kind of peace brings eternal pain? I can say right now, God's will is not wealth and comfort. Jesus said it back then and it stands true today. There is a cost to following God, it may be your family - Luke 9:57-62, or it may be everything you own - Luke 18:18-23. But a change is necessary. Jesus never functioned for his own comfort whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. I have to believe this statement is the epitome of being close to God, having a burden for someone, or feeling what God feels. This peace that lies within me is one of eternal pain but surpassing faith in God's ultimate desire to shower mercy in the heaviest and most broken places.

I began to ask God why so much pain? But this world is heavy. The reason we can survive is hope and from hope we find joy, and joy is much different than happiness. Happiness and comfort fade and therefore is not a worthy goal. But hope and joy are our lifelines. These come only from God. I started thinking about getting closer to God. Jesus was moved with Compassion for the people many times. He life was a gift out of compassion from God, for His children. God I believe is overwhelmed with compassion for us. Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Basically God is drawn to those that are hurting (AS SHOULD WE BE). I believe that when we desire to draw near to God and know him. First we will see the GLORY of who he is but when we ask God to know his heart we will see much, much, much pain for this Heavy World. God will allow you to see his pain when you draw near him, so you can better understand the heart of God and His love. But the peace comes from a surpassing faith that God's mercies are new everyday. God's hurt and pain flows through his unconditional love into an action of mercy towards his children. He hurts for this heavy world.

Will we draw near to him and take his burden, following his footsteps? Or will we forget what the cross was really all about, Compassion. Will we pretend the rest of the world is not hurting so we can live in comfort? We can't be a follower of Christ and live separated and above the world. We must dwell among them, loving them and meeting their needs. Maybe we, as individuals, can't change the world but we can change some. Mother Theresa said "If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will." Draw near to God and ask Him for his heart. Sometimes pain is what it takes to wake us up and help us forget about ourselves. WAKE UP CHURCH, Get to know the heart of God. That is real, not our earthy strivings.