Do You Know How to Deal With Pain?
Good Morning Friends,
Somebody reading this devotional will be in pain. Perhaps you are that person or know that person. If you are then please know the importance of being sincere, considerate, prayerfully patient, and understanding. Know that as Christians we are called in the unity of the Spirit to be different from the world. Friends there is a lot to learn from scripture that addresses the subject of when we hurt. Do You Know How to Deal With Pain?
Scripture: Jesus wept.
John 11:35 (NIV)
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-30 (NRSV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:14-21 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s message is about pain and no it is not simple. It is hard to understand that pain is a gift. It is hard to understand that we are not to anesthetize it every time we encounter it. It is not something that most of us would count as a blessings but its value is clearest in its absence. Think of a person with leprosy. Think of a person addicted to drugs. The cause of the leprosy’s damage is because of a lack of pain. And the temporary lack of pain for the addict makes the problem worse. Oh I think there are times we may want to reduce our pain with drugs but we need to realize that our culture in health care is to obliterate pain. Think of the joy and pain of childbirth and think of the pain of the cross and the joy it has made possible. No this is not a devotional in praise of pain but I am encouraging us to realize that this is not so simple. Make no mistake about it, sometimes God uses people to help other people in their pain. Think of Jesus on the cross. Another classic example of God using man’s evil/pain for good, is of Joseph being sold into slavery. Joseph’s brothers abandoned him but God never did. Friends, sometimes God will use our lives to rescue someone else even though we do not see God in the experience at the time. Of course, one of the biggest challenges to understanding God can be our own experiences with pain and suffering. These hurts may stem from a long list of encounters. Eventually we all hurt. At times the hurts are met with comfort and at others our cries for help seem to go unanswered, testing our faith. The main problem is our perspective. We are not God. The story of Job makes that particularly clear in its honest look at the issue of pain. Here we might just discover that the greatest pain is feeling that God has abandoned us. Here we might just discover that there is a hidden purpose in our suffering as well. Here we might just discover, as James did, that pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction. Friends, a good way to help forget your troubles is to help others out of theirs. Press though the pain with hope and joy and without shame for the pain. Press forward full of joy even in the pain of the moment toward a lasting joy…toward an encounter with love.
Pray we be prompted by God, even in and through our pain, to make positive changes in our lives. Pray we yield our will to God’s. Pray we realize that God might just act through another person to help us. Pray we realize that God maybe rescuing others through our pain. Pray that in our interactions with others our love is genuine. Pray that we are aware of those who hurt and understand the nature of their pain. Pray for those with mental and physical addictions. Pray for those with physical and mental challenges. Pray for those who are lonely, feeling uncared for and feeling unwanted. Pray that our faith makes us whole. Pray we believe in the therapy of faith, prayer and the laying on of hands. Pray we keep in touch with the Great Physician of us all. Pray that the plight of others disturbs us. Pray we believe that sometimes our faith can contribute to another’s health. Pray we are willing to show that we care. Pray we never minimize another’s pain. Pray we realize that the little pain we are in may be there to keep us from experiencing even greater pain.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 