Pain relievers out sell just about anything in the open market in our country. We will do anything to eliminate pain from our lives. Daily we are told that we should not suffer with pain. We are offered more powerful pain relievers, now available without a prescription. In such an atmosphere we are astonished to hear that someone would suffer "according to God's will." Why would God will pain and suffering?
The doctor quietly, but a matter of factly, told us that her hip joint had been completely destroyed by the rheumatoid arthritis. The choice was a total hip replacement or live with the pain and progressively become more and more incapacitated. It did not take much prayer or thought. The surgery date was set and my wife would had her right hip replaced. It was an very extensive surgery. The doctor inflicted a great deal of pain. Yet the pain he inflicted brought healing. Today she walks without pain and without limp. Pain warned us about injury. Pain brought healing.
We see pain as harmful and negative. Yet, it is not always so. Pain is a gift. It protects us by warning us about possible or actual injury. It lets us know when we've done to much. It indicates that muscles are getting stronger (thus the well know athletic saying, "no pain, no gain"). It can also be involved in healing and improving. Hurt does not always equal harm. God never wills suffering or inflicts pain aimlessly or needlessly. God never hurts to harm. In His healing, sanctifying work may involve pain, but it will not harm. It will heal.
As the writer of Hebrews aptly states; "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons... God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Heb. 12:7,10-11)
We need to learn to recognize the different types of pain. If it is warning us, heed the warning. If it is harming us, we need to seek healing. If it is healing us, we need to continue to do good , trust of faithful Creator, and let God continue the good work He has begun in us. For when understood properly, it is true in the lifetime; there is no gain without pain.
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry