We were not created for pain. Pain has resulted from the fall – through death and illness, the dissolution of relationships and the general breaking down and decay of the world. Things don’t work the way they were designed any more. Even our free will, expressed in our fallenness, can cause suffering to ourselves and to others.
Yet God in His great mercy can use all things, even pain, for our good.
Pain is an indication that something is wrong – either physically or emotionally. Sometimes it is protective - like our hand too close to the fire or the presence of an unhealthy relationship. Sometimes it is just an indicator light for something gone wrong as in a state of disease or grief.
The presence of pain can be focusing, paring life down to its simplest tasks. Suffering is humbling and reminds us of our need for Him and often for others. It gets our attention and can draw us to God (or away if we choose). We have a God who sits with us in our suffering. He understands all our hurts because He amazingly chose to endure them Himself for us.
As I look around at this fallen world, I don’t question why I have pain, but rather why are there moments when I don’t. I know my sin and frailty and the chaos around me. As His body, God has called us to help relieve the suffering of others even as we must allow others to minister to ours.
This life has inevitable pain for all of us, but my heart rejoices because I know there will come a time when it will all be removed. There will be no need to protect us from harm and no disease to be warned of. We won’t have to be reminded of our need for God because we will be freely in His glorious Presence. Oh my soul, be at peace. He is coming and will heal all our pain.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.1 Peter 5:10
