Why This Pain?
Why would God allow this pain?
Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I doubt
What is this suffering all about?
What could there possibly be to gain?
Oh the trauma that drove me insane
Mired in darkness, struggling to get out
Why would God allow this pain?
Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I doubt
Though I know there’ll soon be rain
Sometimes at God I want to shout
Wallowing in a spiritual drought
Identifying with His Son who was slain
Why would God allow this pain?
______________________________________
The Meeting the Bar lesson at dVerse Poets Pub today is the Rondel. Check out the other wonderful Rondel’s linked from the lesson.
I actually started writing this poem last night, as part of my decision to write 40 poems for Lent, and it wasn’t quite a Rondel. I made some modifications and had to remove a few lines, although I kept them on the back burner for one of the other 40 poems.
Answer iS simple
my friend.. and so
complex..
hard
as weLL..
as aBove
so beLow
dark above
light below
liGht rises
ouT oF dArk..
friEnd noW oF
liGht iS AlWays dARk..
those maKinG God then
Angel and Devil separate
most often now
fAil to
fiNd
greaTest
liGht as DArk..
but sure God iS
God oF dArk and
liGht ALL.. theRe is nOthing
but free iN WorKinG for God
iN both
dARk
and liGht
Free as GOD..
wILL PLeASE
LiGht
aS DArk..
ALLN0W..:)
Your questions have that universality that make them work for this religious season, and outside it. It made me think of war and human struggles.
The season of Lent, a time for reflection. A different kind of waiting from the sweet anticipation of Advent — but still a time of waiting. For the first time since I was young, I participated in an Ash Wednesday service. Somehow, at this point in my life, I found it comforting to go back to that very old ritual and its words. A good poem here…..
It’s hard not to have those doubts when troubles come. Your lines ring true.
If there was no suffering I don’t think anyone would ever think of Him seriously…such pain is given only to turn and move towards Him…He does love us yet we don’t, as we’re busy with our mundane life…The Son of Man said to leave everything and follow Him but who is doing that?…your poem is very thought provoking and deeply spiritual…we have to knock with our doubts and the door will open…
The age old question that we ask in those moments. Reflecting what Christ said, “Why hast Thou forsaken me?” Beautiful!
I just read the Psalm He quoted when He said that this morning. A good reminder that He understands.
Definitely!
The intense emotion is very well conveyed.
Good for you for writing 40 poems for Lent!
I love the deep pondering here.
Writing poems seems to me a better spiritual discipline than giving up chocolate or something. Glad you enjoyed this one.
I think we all have doubts and that is part of the journey to finding ones self the road was never promised to be easy. I have had my share of pain.
I was going to comment along the lines of Bjorn’s comment. I don’t think doubting or questioning makes us less faithful or committed. It is a valid part of our journey. You brought up good points in your poem, Linda. Thank you for trying the rondel!
I think honest doubting is better than false certainty. At the end of the day I come to the certainty that God is sovereign and God is good, and I still don’t understand why many things happen.
We’re all in the same boat. None of us understand a lot of why things happen the way they do. It’s an individual decision as to how we process that.
Heartfelt poem; we all face this dilemma, some much more than others. Nicely done.
I like the question and makes me dig deeper into my faith ~ This is timely for Lent, Linda ~
I think pain sometimes helps us realize how much we need Someone to take it away! Such is the message of Lent.
I totally agree! That is the direction the poetry will be going for this 40 days of Lent. But sometimes those hurting just need to know someone else asks “why” too.
Echoing the thoughts of many. You did well with this.
The only thing that makes sense out of our faith despite the severity, trauma, & pain we experience and/or witness, is tough love. We asked for this life as spirit, & we can not be coddled or spared the bumps & tragedies along the way back to Him.
So true. I do know that the suffering I’ve experienced has brought me closer to Him out of great need. Without it I’d probably be arrogant and proud, thinking I didn’t need Him at all. Yet coming to grips with the “why” questions in our hearts is an important part of this journey of life. Peace, Linda
you’ve expressed what most have experienced at some time
Such a flawless poem!
You are too kind. Thank you.
This works so well with the form and that expresssion–spiritual drought–so real at times. This morning, I had the thought of trying for a poem a day during Lent–a positive practice, for sure.
I’ve done the poem a day for Lent twice before, and I loved it. I think it was in the middle of the first time that my sister Peggy died, and I probably would have just quit writing at that point if I hadn’t made that commitment. Instead, I wrote about my emotions surrounding her death and I’m so glad I did.
That takes courage and grace.
I think doubt is a virtue… I think it’s what makes us human, and it what makes us move forward… Love what you did with the form Linda.