Pain and Suffering in the Life of a child of God

I always had this presumption that life would be full of pain and suffering—but more of the mental variety, or temporary physical ailments (the flu; break your ankle; something… well, fixable). I never took the time to consider what it would be like to deal with pain on a day in, day out basis—how to fit this sort of suffering with my 'theology', if you will. God is good; God wants your best for you; God has orchestrated the details of your life. In the middle of this plan, there's pain. I've been struggling with pain the past two days…usually it is here for a little while and then fades into the background. This time… it's sticking around for a while.

So, should I complain about how much it hurts and pout for having to suffer? That would be my natural inclination. It is what my flesh WANTS to do. I prefer to stay home all day, in bed, and play the sympathy card; to bemoan my circumstances, maybe do the 'why me' thing for a while. In the end, what does that get me?—a whole lot of nothing. The pain is still here. I still have to come to terms with the fact that pain is, indeed, part of this disease that God has allowed into my life. Maybe it is to refine; maybe it is to punish. I don't know. But honestly—really—does it matter? Will it change how much it hurts or how long the pain lasts? Will it ease the suffering by whining about my misfortunes, make it less my pain?

I can't help but think of the apostle Paul, and his thorn of the flesh. When that story first comes to mind, I think of how Paul asked the Lord to take his thorn away three times, and his request, ultimately, was denied. I never stop to consider why he was given the thorn. I never really noticed that Paul tells us why he was given this! He talked about it—he said it was a messenger of Satan, given to him so that he may not exalt himself. Talk about being humbled! This opens up a whole different topic, one that I (ironically) can go on about for hours—pride. Have you ever considered how much pride can be tied up in your suffering? That can be manifested in physical pain or disability; maybe it's a difficult situation with a relative or friend. The possibilities are endless.

Really, what it comes down to is what Paul repeated and believed: "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, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." Those days, when the pain is more than I feel I can endure—when I rather give up on all that God has set up for me, planned for me, designed for me, because it is just too hard—I try to look back. I'm still learning, but God has yet to fail me in this regard! Look back at all the ways God has delivered you before, from little incidents to major life-altering moments. Remember, if He took care of you in the midst of the 'small' problems you have encountered of this world—and has taken your breath away at how He has worked in those huge moments that defy explanation—He will carry you in the midst of the storm. I love the fact that regardless of how high the swell of the waves are that surround me, I am not going to drown, I will not be lost at sea, I will not be forsaken. I mean, we are talking about God here, right? God. Creator of the universe. Sovereign Lord. Righteous judge. Jesus calmed the waves of the sea easily, no problems, no fear. When you have THAT God on your side… what is there to fear? A little pain? The unknown? No… because He already has it planned…and His way is perfect.

This, I would say, is why Pastor Tim says to preach to yourself. I need to do that more often, seriously.