The Special Creek - What does God do with our Pain?

You know that sound that water makes when it gently gushes over the rocks in a creek? Or when someone sloshes slowly through it on foot? That swishing sound?

Well, today has been a rough day for me emotionally. It started with something that triggered me at work. That made me feel even more alone and even misunderstood than I have felt recently. I kept to myself (and yes that made it worse), and then went home.

But on my way home God reminded me of an image he had given me a while back. It’s was of him (Jesus) sitting next to this little creek in heaven and he put one of his hands in the water and gently moved it back and forth. But the water in the creek wasn’t just any water.

It was my tears.

That was a deeply moving moment when he first showed me that months ago. But today he said something too. As I saw his hand moving through... swish...

He said, “I know daughter, I know.”

He knew the pain I was in. He was comforting me. When others might not notice, he was there. Feeling my pain. Checking in. Healing.

These are the moments that I sometimes hesitate to share with others. Because they can feel too personal. Sacred, even. But I feel like this might bless someone.

So... in your own life when you think of something that has almost broken you, this image might help.

I feel deeply that Jesus has many creeks that belong to each of us.

And when we feel like running from our pain, which can often mean running from him, know that it is safe to stay.

He has a special place for your tears and your pain. They are not meaningless. They are not unnoticed.

Do you hear it? Swish....

Each time he moves his hand it’s like I can hear him: “Shhhhhh...” like a mother soothes her crying baby.

And then... “I know. I’m here.”

Again. Swish.

“I know.”

Swish.

“I’m here. “

Swish.

“Shhhh. “

Swish.

Your tears don’t vanish. He sits with them and feels them too.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. - Psalm 34:18

Taken from a journal entry- June 2026