After the Pain

I remember like yesterday riding in the car with friends, radio blasting and singing "After the Pain" by Betty Wright. This was typical behavior after one of us had an argument with our boyfriend. We sang in harmony with our voices sounding just like our hearts, broken. Our feelings would dance in the air as we echoed every one of Betty Wright's words: "No one's ever gonna love you like I do, I don't know why I do, but I do, yes, I do."

I have heard this song many times since then, but the last time I listened to it on the radio, its words reverberated differently within my heart and soul, especially the following verse:

"After all, I've been

through

I should be through with

love.

But there's a God up above

That keeps sayin',

"Betty, try.

Don't give up; you know why

The sun is gonna shine.

'Cause you are mine, all

mine.

You just keep doin' your

best

And I will do the rest.

'Cause I love you, love you,

Betty like I do."

You have to admit, even back in 1987, Betty Wright was on to something with this one. She said, "God said, try, don't give up, and I will do the rest." This right here knocked on the door of my heart and restored my confidence in my own marriage. I have often felt like giving up and almost threw in the towel at one time, but God worked on me and continues to do so. In my first prayer journal, I have an extensive entry where I wrote a confession related to my marriage. For transparency, one of my first confessions was speaking and acting out of anger. When I desired something, I wanted it right then and there, period, which caused a further disconnect in our marriage. It was mentally challenging to list my faults because it required looking in the mirror and being honest about my own issues. 

 I then wrote specific things I wanted God to change in my marriage and within my husband and me centered on 1 Corinthians 13. At the end of the entry, I taped a picture of our family as a reminder of God's promises. He can be trusted to keep His promise if we hold tightly to the hope we profess to have (Hebrews 10:23). It has been nearly six years since I wrote this entry; however, I still reflect on it from time to time, refreshing my hope and even putting checkmarks beside the answered prayers such as "God, if it is your will, bring Erick home."

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:7).

I want to hear from you!

Our heart issues may be distinctive, but one thing is for sure, pain is pain. How do you work through your heart issues (e.g., hurt, disappointment, regrets)?