Some pain is easy to see. It comes out in tears, anger, or words that express exactly what we’re feeling. But there’s another kind of pain. Hidden pain. The kind we push down, ignore, and try to convince ourselves doesn’t matter.
I see this in our son. When my wife and I separated, it didn’t just affect me, it affected him too. She had been in his life since he was six years old, a constant figure during the formative years of his childhood. But when she left, the relationship ended for him too. She wasn’t there for his college graduation. She missed three of his birthdays and two Christmases.
If you ask our son, he’ll tell you he doesn’t care. He’ll say, “She wasn’t my real mom anyway.” But I know better. He loved her and has called her mom from the very beginning. I know the woman who hugged him after school, celebrated his victories, and prayed with him before bed was more than just a stepmom… she was family. And losing her left a void he doesn’t like to talk about.
I understand his response because I’ve been there. It’s easier to push away pain than to deal with it. Admitting it hurts feels vulnerable, and sometimes, we’d rather pretend we’re fine than confront the ache in our hearts. But the truth is, hidden pain doesn’t just disappear, it festers. And unless we bring it to the surface and to God, it can harden our hearts.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is close to the brokenhearted. He doesn’t wait for us to have it all together before He steps in. He’s with us in the mess, in the tears we don’t shed, and in the words we can’t say.
I pray that one day our son will let God into the spaces where it still hurts. Because healing doesn’t mean forgetting… it means trusting God to fill the gaps with His love and grace.
If you’re carrying hidden pain, know this: God sees it, even if no one else does. He’s ready to meet you where you are and bring the healing only He can provide.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being close to the brokenhearted, even when we don’t express our pain. Help me, and those I love, to bring hidden hurts to You, trusting You to bring healing and peace. Thank You for Your unfailing love. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.