I have experienced what must be the worst and most helpless feeling known to man.

Earlier this year, our two-year-daughter, Hope, had a stretch where she was sick off and on for more than a month. She had fevers, could not keep food down, and lost weight. During this time of Hope’s sickness, I felt the anguish of seeing my daughter experience sickness and pain for the first time. There were times I must have looked like a mad man trying to deal with this debilitating pain. Since then, there has been a time or two where an extra-big “boo-boo” has reminded me of this feeling.

As I have had time to think about this relatively new feeling, I think about our Heavenly Father and the pain He must have felt as He watched His only Son suffer on the cross as a gift of love for this lost world. I also think of the pain He must feel now as He sees His creation suffer in pain and sickness, many ignoring the gift that is right in front of them, and many others who have never received word of the gift. His pain, I am sure, is infinitely greater than mine. Still, instead of using His omnipotence to cause the rocks to cry out and tell the world overnight about the good news, He chooses to use us. When we think of the pain it brings our Heavenly Father to see just one soul lost, how can we not say, “Here I am use me?”

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