As a former athlete, I can certainly recall prolonged periods of pain from sports injuries. And as I’ve aged, pain has become somewhat a constant companion.
Perhaps you can relate to my personal circumstances. Then again, perhaps you are pain free physically at least.
Pain is not just physical. It can also be mental anguish and even spiritual in nature.
Loss of loved ones causes a deep emotional pain that can last a lifetime. I’ve seen it dramatically thwart a person’s ability to function in their career.
This discussion will be quite short in comparison to C.S. Lewis’ well-known book,
The Problem of Pain.
My approach to this subject will be similar; i.e., from a Christian perspective, yet quite different based upon my personal encounter with the subject.
Pain has a certain power and a certain purpose. Having a proper personal perspective can be quite valuable in dealing with our personal pain as we go through the trials of life.
The oldest written account of man’s suffering is presented in the Book of Job.
I first read Job’s story in 1992 as I was going through an illness (double pneumonia) that hospitalized me for four full days followed by a six-month recovery in regaining my physical and mental strength.
Those 42 chapters gave me a deeper understanding of personal pain and mental anguish. Please consider reading the full account.
The Problem of Pain can best be presented by turning to the words of the Apostle Paul found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9:
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
These past few years, I’ve seen God allow me to go through many trials that have caused me to grow spiritually. There was physical and mental anguish, but through it all I’ve grown closer to my Lord and Savior.
God continues to hone my writing skills and gift of communicating. He also continues to mold me into His likeness, and I delight in His intricate ways of deftly working in my life.
Perhaps He is working in your life similarly through personal pain. Some of you know what we’ve been discussing, and undoubtedly some of you will experience His touch in the future.
Rest assured, it’s all for His purpose and His glory!