The Blessing of Pain

Pain is not necessarily a bad thing. None of us really go around looking for opportunities to experience pain either physical, emotional, or otherwise. In fact, many people do everything they can to avoid pain or mask pain they are experiencing. Much of the drug use and alcohol abuse in the world today is to cover pain... physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. People going through terrific pain in life will escape for a while through the artificial euphoria induced by drugs (illegal or prescription) or alcohol.

Proverbs actually describes the masking of pain by drinking wine. “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. ‘They hit me,’ you will say, ‘but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?’" Proverbs 23:31-35 (NIV)

The truth is that God has given us pain as a warning sign, an alarm for us to pay attention to and discover the cause of the pain. It is a call to UNCOVER the cause of pain not COVERUP up the pain.

In, "Where Is God When It Hurts" Philip Yancey tells the story of NBA basketball player Bob Gross. He insisted on playing in a key game despite a badly injured ankle. Knowing that Gross was an important part of the game, the team doctor injected Marcaine, a strong painkiller into three different places of his foot. Gross started the game, but after a few minutes, as he was battling for a rebound, a loud snap! could be heard throughout the arena. Gross, oblivious to the break, ran up and down the court twice more, then crumpled to the floor. He felt no pain, and yet a bone had broken in his ankle. By overriding pain’’s warning system with the anesthetic, the doctor had caused permanent damage and ended the basketball career of Bob Gross. This doctor failed his profession. He had been trained to heal the cause of pain, but instead chose to cover it up causing irreparable damage.

Bob Gross brought his pain to a doctor and received what he wanted (please stop the pain so I can play) instead of what he needed (instructions to get off the foot so he wouldn’t further injure the ankle and proper support until it healed, followed by therapy to strengthen the ankle and minimize the risk of further injury). Here’s what I know... we can bring all our pain to Jesus and always be assured that we will receive what we need not just what we want. The pain may not go away instantly, but if we will take the counsel of the Word and others Jesus places in our lives to help us we will find the cause of the pain, treat it, eliminate it, and return to life healed and restored. Sometimes because of the pain of sin we have to sit out a few games. That’s not fun, but better a few games than the rest of our life.

So, don’t curse the pain in your life. Listen to it. It’s trying to save you more pain and possible even your life. Then there is a time coming when there will be no more pain. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for not listening to the pain in my life and bringing it to the Great Physician. I bring You my pain today to know its source and its cure. My heart and my ears are open to hear Your counsel to me. Thank you for Your faithfulness. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger