Back in January 2021 I posted this important devotion on pain. I hope that for the many of you suffering with pain, in its very forms, this devotion may prove an encouragement to you.
Pain. None of us like it, we try to avoid it, but sometimes it’s necessary. God, in His wisdom has built the mechanism of pain into all of us. On a physical level pain warns us of danger ahead. For example, if we touch a hot stove, we immediately pull back our hand. The pain we experience warns us that if we leave our hand on the hot stove, we will suffer a severe burn. In the case of Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy), pain, which normally acts as a warning system, can’t be felt by the person with this nerve damage disease. In very advanced cases of this disease, the person may have multiple injuries due to lack of sensation in their feet and hands. This same individual may touch a hot stove and not know it is hot because of the nerve damage caused by this disease. As a result, he may not pull back his hand, and thus suffer a severe burn.
But on a spiritual level, pain can even be a more valuable ally than on the physical level. Let me explain. While God doesn’t want any of us to feel pain, He knows it is a necessary element in our spiritual growth process. (1 Peter 1:6-7) shares this key concept: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Faith can only grow when tested by trials – which no one wants. But we know that trials and pain are the key to not only strengthening our faith but allowing us to experience the great joy we get knowing that we are growing closer to God and bringing Him glory.
The psalmist even goes so far as to thank God when he is afflicted. For we read in (Psalm 119:71): “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” There can be nothing as important in our walk with the Lord than to learn and obey His commandments. And once again trials and pain are the key tools God uses to help us achieve this goal. I think that the best way to view trials and pain in the economy of God is to view them as training tools in the school of righteousness. I love how The Message translates this idea in (Hebrews 12:7-11):
“God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off big-time, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”
God also warns us as Christians to expect trials and pain in our walk with Him. Suffering is often the will of God when we desire to take a stand for Jesus. We clearly will not always be popular as committed Christians but we will always be blessed. Listen to what the Scriptures say that the apostle Paul should expect as a Christian in (Acts 9:15-16): “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.’” While Paul knew he would face many trials for Christ he also knew that God would be with him in these difficult situations and would work them out for good. (Romans 8:28) makes this clear: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Finally, it is important to understand when we go through pain and suffering for the sake of Christ we are accruing a rich reward in heaven for we read in (2 Corinthians 4:17): “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Pain, paradoxically, is often the pathway to blessing for the Christian. Abundant joy is just one of the by-products that we can experience when we allow our pain to bring glory to Jesus. (James 1:2-4) is a promise we can count on as we strive to be obedient to Christ: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Always remember that pain and joy are often two sides of the same coin for the Christian.