Two days back, Louisa, my wife’s colleague, received a call from her daughter telling her that her husband was very sick and had been admitted in a hospital. The news came as a shock to her and she broke down crying. She was so scared that her body went cold. One of the mates from the office took her to the hospital.
Later, when Lorine visited the hospital, she was told what had happened that morning. Xavier, a perfectly healthy middle-aged man, who was on holiday in Dubai with his daughter, experienced some pain in the chest. He ignored the pain as being gas pain and went for his normal 5km jog. By the time he returned, the pain had increased so much that his daughter rushed him to the nearest hospital. There, the doctors told them (after performing some tests) that two of his arteries were blocked and angioplasty had to be done immediately. Now the procedure has been done and Xavier is slowly recovering from his ordeal.
In this instance, pain was good because it sent alarm bells off, alerting one to the fact that something drastically wrong was going on inside the body which needed urgent attention. Imagine, if there was no pain! The blockages would have lead to a major cardiac arrest leading to his death!
Spiritually speaking, one of the benefits of pain is expressed by James: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3). According to James, when we endure painful trials, we can take joy in knowing that God is at work in us to produce endurance and Christ-like character. This applies to mental, emotional and spiritual pain as well as to physical pain.
Pain also provides one an opportunity to experience the grace of God. Consider what Paul said: “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul was speaking of a “thorn in his flesh” that was troubling him. We don’t know what it was, but it seemed to have been painful for Paul. He recognized that God’s grace was being given to him so he could endure.
God will give His children the grace to bear pain.
Later, when Lorine visited the hospital, she was told what had happened that morning. Xavier, a perfectly healthy middle-aged man, who was on holiday in Dubai with his daughter, experienced some pain in the chest. He ignored the pain as being gas pain and went for his normal 5km jog. By the time he returned, the pain had increased so much that his daughter rushed him to the nearest hospital. There, the doctors told them (after performing some tests) that two of his arteries were blocked and angioplasty had to be done immediately. Now the procedure has been done and Xavier is slowly recovering from his ordeal.
In this instance, pain was good because it sent alarm bells off, alerting one to the fact that something drastically wrong was going on inside the body which needed urgent attention. Imagine, if there was no pain! The blockages would have lead to a major cardiac arrest leading to his death!
Spiritually speaking, one of the benefits of pain is expressed by James: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3). According to James, when we endure painful trials, we can take joy in knowing that God is at work in us to produce endurance and Christ-like character. This applies to mental, emotional and spiritual pain as well as to physical pain.
Pain also provides one an opportunity to experience the grace of God. Consider what Paul said: “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul was speaking of a “thorn in his flesh” that was troubling him. We don’t know what it was, but it seemed to have been painful for Paul. He recognized that God’s grace was being given to him so he could endure.
God will give His children the grace to bear pain.
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