A few weeks ago, mental health professionals announced that there are many people suffering from emotional pain during this pandemic. This emotional pain is called “social pain”.
Social pain involves painful emotions caused by situations involving other people, such as feeling alone, disconnected, abandoned, rejected, devalued, ostracized, etc. During this pandemic, one of the most overwhelming pains is social isolation.
While zoom meetings have helped enormously, after a year of social isolation, people hunger for reconnection with friends and loved ones. The roll-out of three vaccines has many people feeling more hopeful about the future.
Yet social pain is not the only form of pain. Many are facing ruin after the ice and snowstorms in Texas and elsewhere. Food lines are long in many places. Millions are out of work. Economic recovery for many is still far away. We turn to Christ amid pain, social isolation, and despair.
There is a hymn that speaks to the healing that we need and long for in the midst of emotional pain, discouragement, or loneliness. This well-known hymn says:
“There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged, and deep I feel the pain.
In prayers the Holy Spirit, revives my soul again.
Not everyone feels social pain. Not everyone feels isolated or alone. But many do. Many need comfort, food, shelter, water, and warmth from the cold. As Christians, we follow Christ’s example of love and compassion for those in need. Reach out and touch someone; someone you haven’t talked with in a while or someone you might bring some joy to, Call someone or e-mail someone to see how they are doing. It doesn’t take but a few minutes to someone’s darkness. You can bring the healing balm of Christ’s caring love.
“There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole,
There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the wounded soul”
One Minute is written by Pastor Ron Rehrer, Counselor for Church Workers of the PSD. He can be reached by phone at 949.433.5182 or by e-mail at ron@ronrehrer.com