I hurt, and I don't do well with pain. I spent the majority of my life trying to escape pain through any means possible. I am grateful that my recent motorcycle wreck didn't do any serious damage, but almost a week and a half later I still hurt so badly that I can barely walk at times. The part of me that lends toward self-indulgence and self-pity wanted to check out this morning, crawl into a hole somewhere and just suffer. If you have to suffer you might as well wallow right? I mean if God wanted me to do something else He would make it stop hurting right?
He could, but He hasn't. And in response the rest of me, the new creation that knows that self-indulgence and self-pity is never the solution determined to praise Him through the pain. Did my back and knee stop hurting or hurt less? No. The situation didn't change for the better. If anything it grew worse. But somehow the pain and anguish and fear within my mind and soul dissipated. With the inner pressure relieved the physical pain became more bearable without the need for extra medication or escape. I'm grateful for that, and I'm grateful for that reminder that Jesus is the answer to the problem of pain, the peace that passes understanding, the strengthening joy in the storm of sorrow, the refuge where we can escape fear, and the truth that makes us free. It is because of this that we can praise Him through the pain, and when we praise Him through the pain it brings us to the place of understanding who He is. It's a wonderful circle of praise and revelation.
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