When Charles Spurgeon was just 22, his church had already outgrown its building.

While a new facility was under construction, they rented a large hall at Surrey Gardens for services.

As Spurgeon prepared to preach to a crowd of thousands, someone yelled “Fire,” and the panicked audience rushed for the exits.

Seven people were killed and dozens injured in the confusion.

Spurgeon fell into a deep depression and even believed he wasn’t fit for the ministry. When he returned to the pulpit two weeks later, he told the people that he had feared he would never be able to speak to them again.

All around us there are hurting people. Sometimes that pain is noticeable, but often it is concealed beneath what seems to us to be bitterness, anger or a harsh spirit.

While we are responsible to respond correctly to the hardships of life, it is not unusual for even the best Christians to struggle with pain and sorrow.

It is important for us to look beyond the surface to see what is causing the reactions of others. While some people are unkind and unpleasant, many times it is a result of a deep level of pain that does not know how to find expression any other way.

Let us have compassion on our world, just as Jesus did.

You never know what a simple smile could do to change someone’s day and give him or her hope to keep pressing on.

For more details, call the church at 765-778-2000 or email [email protected].

Hargis is pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Pendleton.