There are two kinds of pain: emotional and physical. I hate both, but I have come to view pain as something we need to embrace.
I grew up on Lake Huron and one spring we had a great Nor'easter that sucked the tide out more than a half mile of its normal shoreline. The wind was so strong you could literally lean into it at a forty-five degree angle and it would hold you upright. It was awesome and powerful. However, when you turned your back on it, it would literally pile-drive you to the ground.
Pain is like that. Turn into it, embrace it, accept it, and you allow God to work through it and in you. But pretend it doesn't exist and it will beat you down every time. If you've ever had a 'Charlie Horse' (a muscle cramp) you know exactly what I'm talking about. I get them in the calf of my leg, particularly when I wake up in the morning. That contracted muscle burns like fire and the last thing I want to do is get out of bed. I'd rather lay there and clutch my leg and cry, but the one thing that will release it is getting up and walking on it. Ouch! I have to force myself to face the pain and put weight on it, but when I do, the muscle relaxes, the pain recedes and I discover I might live after all!
"For to you it has been granted" read that "have been given the privilege of." God's word tells us we will suffer. In fact those who want to live godly, it says, will suffer persecution. We can try to run from it, or hide it, or even ignore it but that won't make it go away. Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble, but that He had overcome it for us. He faced it in the Garden, and on the cross at Calvary. He more than understands; He has the power to help us through it, and wonder of wonders - glorify Him in it if we allow Him to work in our lives.
Heavenly Father, help us to face the difficulties in our lives, to embrace the pain, and allow You to mold and change us through it that we might be conformed to the image of Your Son. Amen.
Missy Horsfall
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