Everybody Hurts Sometimes…

Remember when song lyrics could stir your soul? When words were more valuable than empty sound bites and catchy beats? They seemed to reach down into the depths of your being and reflect your deepest, unspoken emotions. Our love, despair, hope, and dreams were all captured in that magical invention we called cassettes, crafted with intention, purpose, and passion. Sigh, good times. 

One of those timeless masterpieces still hits home.

When your day is long

And the night

The night is yours alone

When you’re sure you’ve had enough

Of this life

Well, hang on

Don’t let yourself go

‘Cause everybody cries

And everybody hurts sometimes…

Song: “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M 

Our Reality

What makes us hurt and cry if not Pain? A universal constant, more abundant in supply than hydrogen, does not respect status, race, or culture. Oh, what a difficult companion to keep. From ancient scripture to modern science, it is well-researched and talked about. Yet, the sources of pain are as diverse as humanity itself. Whether it be an illness, loss, betrayal, a broken relationship, a strained friendship, or even just the daily struggles of life, pain is simply unavoidable. It is so holistic in its ability to affect us physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. We see one of the most accurate depictions of the universality of pain in Job 14:1 “Man who is born of woman is few days and full of trouble (pain, struggle).” Similarly, in John 16:33, Jesus said: “In this world, you will have trouble (pain, struggle).” Even the Son of God himself, Jesus Christ had to experience the ultimate pain of crucifixion to redeem us. 

Needless to say, everybody hurts sometimes…

I have spent the past few months dealing with my fair share of physical pain, medical appointments, a restlessness that I simply couldn’t explain and you know…the everyday struggles. So, hearing the word “sometimes” in that last line of the chorus feels a lot like a warm hug. It is a subtle reminder that pain is universal but temporary. It is not definitive of one’s life but always a shadow, slowly fading away with times and seasons. No wonder, one of the wisest kings to ever live wrote “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted… A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4) 

The Purpose

Ultimately, the inevitable nature of pain is balanced by the possibility of hope and the understanding that painful days don’t always last. They become the canvas on which God paints a masterpiece by refining, renewing, and transforming everything that we are. The Apostle Paul said, “…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4). If you have ever had to persevere through a difficult season, you’ll know that hope is the most powerful antidote to despair. It gets us through the seasons of suffering but how do we hold on to hope? Well, R.E.M. said it best in the last chorus and outro. 

Well, everybody hurts sometimes

Everybody cries

And everybody hurts sometimes

And everybody hurts sometimes

So hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on

Everybody hurts

No, no, no, no, no

You are not alone

Yes, you are not alone. Our unified experience with pain makes it possible to seek solace in others and share the weight. In Galatians 6:2 we are reminded to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” As we established in our previous post “Made for Relationship, Wired for Connection”, God designed us to live in a community since isolation can magnify our pain. In contrast, communities help us to cultivate bonds of compassion, understanding, and forgiveness. When in pain a compassionate hand, a listening ear, or a comforting word can be the reminder we need that we are not alone. But community doesn’t just help us endure pain—it helps us build hope. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together.” As we share our burdens with others, our focus starts to shift from the hurt itself to the potential for healing and transformation.  

Our Hope

Finding true restoration and healing is a process. Let us remember that our pain is not the end of our story but a chapter in our journey of faith. Through our struggles, we discover the depth of our resilience and the extent of God’s grace. This is our hope that “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction is present in our suffering”. This promise is a beacon of light in the darkness, reminding us that pain is just a chapter, not the whole book. In our moments of deepest anguish, God is there, listening to our cries and offering solace. Our pain is not in vain; it is purposeful. Psalm 34:17-20 reminds us that “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” So, when your nights feel long and cold, you feel like letting go and you think you’ve had too much of this life, hang on. Everybody hurts, everybody cries sometimes…just know that joy will surely come in the morning.