Welcoming God into Our Pain

by Graeme Cann

“Our ability to achieve good life balance is directly impacted by the degree of emotional wounded-ness that we are currently dealing with in our own lives and in the lives of those we live with”, said Counsellor Graeme Cann recently.” Enjoyment of work, the ability to rest and the freedom to play are all limited by unresolved emotional pain or by the relentless struggle to live in a painful relationship.”

Life experiences such as childhood abuse, abandonment, parents divorce, bullying and significant loss, if not addressed and resolved, often become the cause of such emotional and physical issues as depression, anger, anxiety, phobias, anorexia, migraines and a host of other conditions. All of these impinge on our ability to work, rest and play and just as importantly they frequently lead to behaviours such as aggression, distancing ourselves from others, and even abuse. Healing and release from the past comes when we accept God’s invitation to welcome Him into those areas of pain so that we might live life as joyfully and freely as He intends.

Listen to the words of an old Hasidic Rabbi as he lay on his deathbed;

“When I was young, I set out to change the world. When I grew older, I perceived that was too ambitious so I set out to change my state. This, too, I realised as I grew older was too ambitious, so I set out to change my town. When I realised that I could not even do this, I tried to change my family. Now as an old man, I know that I should have started with myself, maybe then I would have succeeded in changing my family, the town or even the state – and who knows, maybe even the world.”

Graeme Cann has been a Church of Christ pastor for more than forty years, he was a founding member of the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia and more recently helped lead the Federal Government Funded programme in the City of Casey aimed at raising awareness about domestic violence, named “Promoting Peace in Families.”

On Saturday 18th June, Christians for Biblical Equality have organised a conference on violence and abuse in the family at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 106 Church Rd, Doncaster between 1:30 and 5pm. Cost $25, $15 concession. Graeme Cann will introduce the topic and then lead one of the three workshops. Please get this information into your church bulletins and bring a friend. For more information visit: www.cbe.org.au (click on ‘Events’), or contact Denise Cooper-Clarke on 0438 595 527.