Pain Does Not Kill

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (pain). But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Who likes to be in pain? It makes no difference what kind of pain it is, this irritant of life is no ones friend. There is some pain that is low grade. We are able to work through it and keep our minds occupied with other activities until it eventually goes away. We wake up in the morning with a dull headache from sleeping wrong, or at the end of the day our feet hurt because we have been on them too long, or a finger nail decides it wants to grow a little long in a direction that it shouldn't and our finger begins to hurt. Still other pain is a tad bit more resistant, simply keeping busy doesn't help us that much. Pain, such as a knee that decides to turn one way when our body wants to go another. Instantly that very important joint begins to make it very well known that it is out of commission and it goes on strike. Pain that emanates from our back down our leg because of pressure from a disk on the sciatic nerve begins to scream at us until we are all but immobilized.

Physical pain is something that is not pleasant at best and downright disabling at worst, but other pain exists that cannot be compared to its sister pains. These pains are emotional pains. Emotional pain is created by a myriad of issues: the loss of a pet, the loss of a career, the loss of a loved one can cause such severe pain that our skies become so thick with the clouds of despair that life becomes something that is seemingly optional. Pain of the heart is sometimes so brutal that there isn't any possible relief available...or so it seems. We become so convinced that we are flying solo in this journey through this world of disaster that the only thought we can muster is one that convinces us it's impossible to fill the aching void. Pain: suffering that is caused by physical, mental, or emotional illness. No one likes it... no one wants it...no one welcomes it.

The good news is that pain is not fatal. It is uncomfortable, it is distracting, it is problematic, but pain is often the path we walk down, helping us understand its benefits. No one, while traveling through this maze, jumps up and down for joy. No one claps their hands in the middle of this experience announcing to the world that this is wonderful, but after we successfully get to the other side we can look back and see its benefits. Pain is an incredible teacher that helps us learn just how strong we really are. Lesser individuals would have buckled at the knees and thrown in the towel; lesser individuals would have raised the white flag of surrender; lesser individuals would have locked the deadbolt, closed the curtains, and found a closet to hide in. But you didn't! You haven't! And you won't! You have remembered the promise that the ONE who created you said "I have overcome" even the deepest, most intense pain. You have learned pain has not, nor cannot, nor will not...kill you. Not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow.