Pain is Necessary

I know you read the title and think, “Not so.” Pain is not good. No one wants to feel pain. Pain is an unwanted part of life. I can’t say you’re completely wrong. You’re right no one wants to feel pain, but pain teaches us life lessons. We don’t want the pain, but in some cases, we need it. 

Do you remember the first time you touched a hot stove……after your mother or guardian told you not to? I do. The pain of touching that stove taught me two important lessons. It taught me, I never wanted to touch a hot stove again. It also taught me that I didn’t always make good decisions, i.e, being disobedient was not helpful. What about the first time you decided to exercise? That soreness was not fun, but you had to push through the pain to the other side to get lasting results. Or the loss of that close family member ‘before’ their time? It was painful and I was angry. I couldn’t understand why God took her so young or why she had to suffer before He did. I still don’t. 

Jesus told us in this life there was be many trials and sorrows in John 16:33. So we can expect to have some pain in this life. The real testament is what we allow God to do with our pain. Psa 147:3 tells us “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Are we seeking Him in the midst of our pain, remembering that all things work together for our good (Rom 8:28) or do we allow the pain to drive us away from God? It is only as we seek God in the midst of our pain and confusion and suffering that He will grant us peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:6-7). 

It's in the middle of the pain and suffering that we have an opportunity to give God glory for who He is, even if He doesn’t take the pain away. How powerful is that? What a testimony? According to James, our trails help to make us more mature (Jam 1:3). If we worship the Lord in the midst of whatever our circumstance, our perspective changes. We realize He doesn’t owe us anything. We realize that He is Good, no matter what comes. We realize that He is always working on our behalf, even when we can’t see it. 

None of this means we love the pain we’re in, it just means we don’t allow the pain to dictate our thoughts and actions. As we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ, we must die to self (Gal 2:20). That is painful especially when we like parts of our old life that don’t honor God. One thing I’ve learned is that God is faithful. He can take our honesty and our imperfections and still use us for His glory. He is amazing and for those of us in His family, He chose us for a purpose and plan (Jer 29:11). As He is making us into who He wants us to be, there will be pain, but we can rest assured as we are being molded and made, it is only temporary. We have the joy of our salvation and hope of our future with the Lord. Accept the pain as a part of life and press through. God will be with you through it.