19 Jan The Purpose in Our Pain

Pain – that is all I have been feeling lately. Three weeks ago, my neck and shoulder began to throb in a way previously unknown to me.

Several sleepless nights and pain-filled days later, I sought comfort and more importantly, diagnosis, at the hands of a highly-recommended nearby chiropractor. This lovely and kind woman assessed me and came to this conclusion: I have a pinched nerve.

If you have ever experienced nerve pain, it is unlike anything else. I have birthed four children naturally – I know what pain is and how to cope. All I can say is that this has been a pain so intense that it has roared into my life like a raging locomotive – everything else must get out of the way, for it demands my full attention.

The smallest movements such as bending over to pick up a toy off the floor or reaching to a high cupboard have become very challenging. Lifting and carrying my beautiful 18 month old son around is off-limits.

The Beauty in Our Pain

I have cried many tears while dealing with this pain. I hope and pray that I am healed very soon so that I am able to do all my regular duties pain-free.

But as I have cried out to the Lord for His healing to come, I have also asked Him to show me His purpose in this pain.

While we all hope to avoid difficult situations, God never promised us a pain-free life. Scripture reveals that it is His purpose for us to grow in character through our sufferings:

Romans 5:3-4 states, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

In his book, The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis states, “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

When we suffer from physical, emotional, or mental pain – God is there with us. He is speaking if we have an ear to hear and longs for us to grow through the pain.

Here are just a few things that I have personally been learning through my pain:

1. My body has limits and I must respect them – Life is a breath, a vapor that is fragile as a flame in the wind. I have grown in gratefulness for all that my body can normally do with ease while embracing that there are limits to what my body can do.

2. Heaven is my true home – All of creation groans under the effects of the fall of humanity. Our gardens bear the thorns and our bodies the aches that shout to us of the need of our redemption, which can be found through Christ alone. My pain reminds me that this world is not my true home; Heaven alone will be pain-free.

3. Where I am weak, others can be strong – I am seeing God provide help for me through family and friends already. My own daughters are stepping up to help with with tasks around the house. And most importantly, every time I feel pain, I turn to God and ask for Him to bear me up, to provide strength in my weakness, and use this not only as an opportunity to demonstrate healing but also to develop patient endurance in my life.

4. Empathy for others – Nights when I have laid awake in bed crying from the pain, my heart has been moved with compassion for those in much more severe and debilitating pain than my own. I have a new empathy for those suffering the effects of chronic pain. In short, my personal pain has awakened compassion in my heart for others who are suffering.

There is purpose in every ounce of pain you bear, my friend. God wants to heal our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. He also wants to use the broken and damaged places in our lives to transform our character.

Yield under His loving, almighty hand today and watch with eyes of faith at the great good He will accomplish through your most broken places.