Pain—It’s Temporary With Christ! …Hello weekend readers. I’m a bit late in getting this out because of that dang word up there, PAIN!  Thankfully I don’t have Shingles but I have something close to it and I have never in my life itched so much! I’m sure Jesus is hearing me about every 15 minutes or so, and so is Al. Not fun, not fun AT ALL—even the dog finds a hiding place!

My years as a Paramedic we ​knew that the word ‘Pain’ was paramount for all of us because our job was to do the best to keep them from pain. Depending on the accidents we worked on, those who didn’t make it—and that hurt me—but I also knew they wouldn’t make it and their pain will be gone forever with a lifetime with our Savior.

​C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite professor, author and the ability to let people know who Christ was. He never stopped because he knew pain and he wanted to help others with their pain.​ So, he wrote a book called “The Problem Of Pain.” I have read it so much I can almost read it without the book! Lewis said: “We can rest contentedly in our sins and in our stupidities, and everyone who has watched gluttons shoveling down the most exquisite foods as if they did not know what they were eating, will admit that we can ignore even pleasure. “But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Lewis said: Often Christians experience pain on seemingly intolerable levels. Yet what keeps them going through the hard times and trials of life is the fact that God is in control. In fact, God is so in control that he often will appoint suffering to his people in order to help them strengthen their dependence on him! This always bothered Lewis; he said “Much of the Christian message has been distorted, with many “preachers” of the Word proclaiming that God only wants us to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. This is a dangerous message not only because it isn’t biblical, but because it directly contradicts the experiences of so many faithful followers of Christ!” [So true]

In Colossians 1:24 [using the The Passion Translation] Paul shared this for all of us when “pain is a pain in the butt…” “I can even celebrate the sorrows I have experienced on your behalf; for as I join with you in your difficulties, it helps you to discover what lacks in your understanding of the sufferings Jesus Christ experienced for his body, the church.”

What do we say about Pain? Well first, IT IS REAL (I’m getting the real in spades-ugh). But stop and think of this: “In Christ, we have the hope that it’s temporary” and I am praying this every day that temporary will be GONE! So, if you’re suffering today, deepen your dependence on God and remember that there will come a day when all pain will end and you’ll be with the Lord forever!

Sadly, so many buy into the lie that God only wants us to be healthy and prosperous. Do you believe that’s God’s purpose—even in your pain? Why do so many buy into the lie that God only wants us to be healthy and prosperous and never have any pain?

Do you believe God has purpose, even in your pain, in the midst of your suffering? What steps can you take today to deepen your dependence on Christ? First—ask God to give you the strength to persevere through pain and fully rely on him always. Second—be in prayer every day, talk with God and find his love, grace, and power that he wants for you. AMEN.

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