Pain has a Point

5.15.2010

1 Thessalonians 4:13 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ESV

Pain is universal in this life and there is no one on the face of the earth who is exempt from it. Pain in its myriad forms affects everybody on earth and that includes higher mammals as well. In a fallen world, sociologically and physically all creatures great and small suffer from pain. And pain without hope or pain without reason or pain because of cruelty or pain because of negligence are pains that are painful – and if you will, enduring. Paul told the Thessalonians it’s okay to grieve provided they grieved with hope.

For the believer the thorniness of pain has a point (sorry, couldn’t resist that one). We may not like the pain but the assurance for the followers of Christ is there’s a good reason for it since God is in control of our lives; and God never does anything random – ever; love and random are incongruous. There is a point and a purpose to all that God does; and that includes everybody. But some choose to believe that and have hope, and some don’t; it’s freewill baby and we all have that too. It’s not pain that’s the issue, it’s the way we treat pain and the lessons we learn from it that count.

Father God,

You allow pain because You know what it accomplishes in our lives and everything You do to us, for us and though us is a result of Your love. I must be careful not to let pain be a pain but to be a close friend, counselor and mentor. I must always learn the lessons that pain teaches, and ever relinquish control of my life to You. You are in control and that makes me happy. Help me to grow up and get over stuff and worship You for the God You really are – in Christ’s Name, amen.