TOTAL CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY

The Gift of Pain

by Cynthia Jennings on February 10, 2021

Pain!!! We all at some point will experience physical pain of some kind. Oftentimes we put off pain until the pain is unbearable with the results not being pleasant.

Although we don’t like or welcome pain. Pain tells us there’s a problem. God created our bodies; thus, pain is His way of letting us know that something is wrong and it’s time to take action. Pain is a warning sign to protect us from greater danger and a signal that it’s time to take cover {relax} or do some investigating.

Unfortunately, we can be tempted to look at pain as some form of punishment.  Thinking, “why is this happening to me?”  Scripture lets us know God promises no more pain or tears in heaven (Revelation 21:4). With that in mind we often equate pain to something bad, if it wasn’t bad why will God eliminate it in heaven? But we must remember as long as we are living in this mortal body, we will experience daily decay (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Pain is inevitable (Philippians 1:29). Nothing gets our attention like PAIN! What if we changed our thought process on how we look at pain? We know God uniquely created our bodies. Has it ever crossed your mind that when He was creating us how He knitted the experience of pain into the fabric of humanity to give us warnings or signals, to keep us running to and relying on Him, and to admit we need help?

Whenever you have pain, the first step in healing is to identify what hurts and why, hence getting to the root of the pain. Healing does not always mean the pain will go away entirely. However, pain can and does grow into purpose. The purpose is often missed because we often look at and put extreme focus on the pain {not that the focus is unwarranted} thus we fail to see how pain can actually help us.

The truth is I typed this blog almost 1 year and 4 months ago when I was in the midst of some tooth pain that was very debilitating. In the middle of my complaining The Holy Spirit convicted me of my negative view of this specific pain.  It made me VERY much aware of how much I NEED Jesus to get through the day. I have learned {several times…lol} the more pain I have the more I must talk to Jesus.

Even though pain is a gift that can lead to purpose. Don’t be tempted to minimize or ignore your pain. Pain matters to us and it matters to God. If you’re like me, oftentimes we minimize the pain with statements like, “I’m fine, the pain will go away.” When doing that we believe we are demonstrating strength. When in fact, if not careful. It can lead to greater injury physically and spiritually because we’re saying without saying “God I got this.” Acknowledge the pain, just don’t allow the pain to turn into misery. We can learn to use the adversity of pain to fuel us, or we can let it defeat us.

Are you willing to change your perspective on pain and allow your pain to become a gift? Remember God never leaves or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:8), we can choose to be joyful regardless of our pain!

 

PEARLStoPONDER: God sends pain as a warning not only to find the root of the pain but to seek Him for His purpose in your life for and through the pain.

 

Psalm 119:71---It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Job 6:10---This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Romans 8:18---For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

1 Corinthians 1:6--If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

2 Corinthians 12:9---But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Pain!!! We all at some point will experience physical pain of some kind. Oftentimes we put off pain until the pain is unbearable with the results not being pleasant.

Although we don’t like or welcome pain. Pain tells us there’s a problem. God created our bodies; thus, pain is His way of letting us know that something is wrong and it’s time to take action. Pain is a warning sign to protect us from greater danger and a signal that it’s time to take cover {relax} or do some investigating.

Unfortunately, we can be tempted to look at pain as some form of punishment.  Thinking, “why is this happening to me?”  Scripture lets us know God promises no more pain or tears in heaven (Revelation 21:4). With that in mind we often equate pain to something bad, if it wasn’t bad why will God eliminate it in heaven? But we must remember as long as we are living in this mortal body, we will experience daily decay (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Pain is inevitable (Philippians 1:29). Nothing gets our attention like PAIN! What if we changed our thought process on how we look at pain? We know God uniquely created our bodies. Has it ever crossed your mind that when He was creating us how He knitted the experience of pain into the fabric of humanity to give us warnings or signals, to keep us running to and relying on Him, and to admit we need help?

Whenever you have pain, the first step in healing is to identify what hurts and why, hence getting to the root of the pain. Healing does not always mean the pain will go away entirely. However, pain can and does grow into purpose. The purpose is often missed because we often look at and put extreme focus on the pain {not that the focus is unwarranted} thus we fail to see how pain can actually help us.

The truth is I typed this blog almost 1 year and 4 months ago when I was in the midst of some tooth pain that was very debilitating. In the middle of my complaining The Holy Spirit convicted me of my negative view of this specific pain.  It made me VERY much aware of how much I NEED Jesus to get through the day. I have learned {several times…lol} the more pain I have the more I must talk to Jesus.

Even though pain is a gift that can lead to purpose. Don’t be tempted to minimize or ignore your pain. Pain matters to us and it matters to God. If you’re like me, oftentimes we minimize the pain with statements like, “I’m fine, the pain will go away.” When doing that we believe we are demonstrating strength. When in fact, if not careful. It can lead to greater injury physically and spiritually because we’re saying without saying “God I got this.” Acknowledge the pain, just don’t allow the pain to turn into misery. We can learn to use the adversity of pain to fuel us, or we can let it defeat us.

Are you willing to change your perspective on pain and allow your pain to become a gift? Remember God never leaves or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:8), we can choose to be joyful regardless of our pain!

 

PEARLStoPONDER: God sends pain as a warning not only to find the root of the pain but to seek Him for His purpose in your life for and through the pain.

 

Psalm 119:71---It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Job 6:10---This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Romans 8:18---For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

1 Corinthians 1:6--If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

2 Corinthians 12:9---But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Comments

Posted by Anonymous on February 10, 2021
This is great, thank you! I have ignored the pain so many times because I didn't want to look like a cry baby, then I would keep going until I couldn't and would need very strong medicine to stop the pain. I never looked at it like it was God getting me to communicate with Him. This definitely was an eye opener for me and the way I deal with pain spiritually and physically. Thanks First Lady.
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