Seasons of Pain
Just recently on an NFL game, a young dolphins quarterback was sacked and thrown down to the ground, with a head and neck injury that left everyone on the field and those watching wondering what now? One of the commentators said when something like that happens, it changes the way everyone plays the game the rest of the night…because nobody likes to see people go through pain, and
Probably one of the most difficult seasons any of us face is the season of pain.
There is pain in our world, there is pain in our church, there is pain in our homes and there is pain in our personal lives…Pain and suffering in our world is not even comprehensible by our finite human minds, the internet and social media give us a reason to cry every day. From natural disasters, to terroristic plots, human trafficking, hunger, poverty, immorality, domestic violence all of these trigger the “why” question. And we can easily wrestle with worldly pain on a philosophical level, but it when that pain hits home, that this season become extremely difficult.
Pain and suffering was a significant part or Jesus’ ministry. Just to reflect on one occasion in Luke 8, where He is on His way to heal a little girl who was dying and along the way, a woman with a chronic blood issue was trying to reach out for healing. Suffering and pain was all around Jesus, and He embraced it with compassion, purpose and power.
Every human being will wrestle with the corruption of sin, the carnal temptations of our soul, disease, pain, tragedy, death, abuse, persecution, aging, weakness, loss, grief, sorrow, betrayal rejection and unfulfilled expectations. the Bible tells us that pain in suffering is not reserved only for the unrighteous, but many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Being a follower of Jesus, will most likely land you in a season of pain and suffering at some point in your life.
A few months back, one of my triplet sons, Luke, he was only 5 years old and contracted a very rare infection in his kidneys, landing him in a critical life threatening moment. After dialysis and surgery, he is now fully healthy and is much alive today, to the praise of Jesus. But going through that season, lots of moments of wondering why? Why my son? and yet even upon recovery, the questions still come, why not the child in the hospital next to him, why did Luke recover and not that little girl, why did my prayers get answered, and not those parents.
The problem of suffering often prompts us to ask why? And that’s because anything that threatens our world, our purpose, our meaning in life, causes us to feel loss as though we have no hope.
And there are dangers in seasons of pain that we should avoid. The first danger is ISOLATION, when we are in a season of pain, we think no one else understands and we self-isolate, escape and avoid the relationships that can give us comfort. Another danger, is SELF-ABSORPTION. We are so overwhelmed with our own crisis, that we have nothing left in our soul to express empathy or compassion on someone else’s pain. SHAME & CONDEMNATION play a role too. The moment a crisis, trial or suffering comes our way, all of those deep dark sins and weaknesses rear the ugly head, trying to make us feel like we are being punished for this. Then there is ANGER. Depending on the unique set of circumstances, this can be a really dangerous result, causing people to become bitter, cynical and even approach justice with sarcasm.
But on the flip side, pain and suffering can have a great reward. Think of jogger who puts their body in pain to accomplish that monumental moment of running a marathon, or to the mother who holds that baby after giving birth, and how about the alcoholic who goes through a season of detoxing only to find themselves free of a controlling substance.
James chapter 1 tells us that we should consider it joy to face all these trials. For there are some rewards. He states that trials develop the fruit of our character called PATIENCE which gives tenacity and courage to endure and persevere. God wants us to grow into MATURITY, so he puts us through difficult seasons like this. Eventually, coming out of that season with purpose, we are COMPLETE, not lacking anything, CONTENT with the perfect work of God’s grace and mercy in our lives through it. And lastly and probably most importantly God gives us some WISDOM, a little divine understanding into the why of what happened. This is the wisdom that conquers the temptation to run, gives us vision to the eternal value of suffering, and sustains us in the race of faith, until we reach the end, which is the salvation of our souls.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1, in all this you greatly rejoice, though for now you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trial, that are of greater worth than gold, which perishes even refined by fire, that it may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Let me conclude with our greatest inspiration in seasons of difficulty, pain and suffering is Jesus Christ. When He took on the sin of the entire world, he felt your pain, your suffering, your trial, your loss, your tragedy and by placing your faith in Jesus and in His resurrection, you can be filled with hope that the final, permanent destination for your soul is where every tear is wiped away and we will live in a suffering-free environment once again. So no matter how dark and painful the season is today, you can have confidence because of Jesus that He has secured your victory over sin, death and every evil power of this age.
So remember, Jesus said you will have trouble in this world, but I have overcome this world. And the light and momentary troubles of life are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Your season of pain is authenticating and certifying your faith in an eternal hope and purpose! (John 16:20; 2 Corinthians 4:17)