The Essence of Pain
Suffering breaks the heart of God. He weeps as we weep. In our ordeal of affliction, His tears wash over us.
I have felt God’s Presence in pain’s crucible and found His mercy and love for me there. Through the experience of suffering, God has shown me His beautiful essence in it and I understand that nothing comes at me without His sovereign permission.
While my goal in life has not been to search for the good in affliction, chronic pain wrapping me in a cloak of daggers over the past several decades has warranted me seclusion and time to ask questions. What is it, I’ve wondered, about our suffering that God allows if everything first comes through His heart of love?
“There is a divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by human reason” writes L.B. Cowman.
Suffering is a universal event, unwelcomed, unexpected, and usually unplanned. It ruins a day, alters perspectives, turns nice people into ogres, and mean people into sissies. It shatters plans and dreams and threatens to rewrite our story. The good news is God is the Author and His story never changes. He is our refuge, fortress, and shelter and He is faithful, trustworthy, and strong. No matter our pain, our Sovereign God has a better plan for us.
“Because you made the LORD your dwelling place…no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague shall come near your tent…because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him….” (Psalm 91: 9,14)
During a recent episode of chronic back spasms, I asked God to take me deep into His mystery. Just what is the essence of pain, the golden thread that keeps us holding on to our faith in the midst of despair and loss of heart and soul? When in the throes of suffering, we cry out to God and question His purpose. Our prayers are deep and desperate. We want our Rescuer even more than relief.
I believe pain is a gift because it ultimately brings us closer to God. In His presence, though the pain persists, His glory pours into us so that we experience the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. It is here that pain becomes a gift.
Pain teaches Patience.
Pain exhorts Adoration.
Pain offers Invitation.
Pain ushers us into the Now of God’s Presence.
Yes, Beloved, in pain we can know that we are not alone. When He suffered and died on the Cross, our Savior knew our deepest needs. No matter the agony, our merciful, compassionate, all-powerful Rescuer accompanies us. His trumpet is loud and clear for the Sufferer to hear –
“God has not destined [you] for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died so that whether [you] are awake or asleep [you] might live with Him.” (1 Thess. 5:9-10)