As most of you know, I am now five days out from surgery. I’m still getting better and stronger each day. But do you know what I have had every day since surgery? Pain. Surgery hurts. I mean, they give you pain medicine and stuff, but it still hurts. But it’s better to have this pain of healing than to have pain because my body is still broken or getting sicker.
The weird thing is we all understand this process. And yet, in our spiritual lives, we want to avoid all pain. We want to take some kind of life anesthetic. We build lives according what will cause the least pain, but not according to what will help us heal. I personally want to be willing to go through whatever pain God has in store that will make me into who He wants me to be. It may not be fun, but it is good.
Todd
Todd,
I needed to be reminded of this today. Thank you! I am glad you are feeling better from the surgery!!
Amen to that dude. I think that it’s easy for us to assume that God doesn’t want us to experience pain…when really, it could quite well be what brings us closer to him…if that makes any sense lol (its 1am here so that’s about as theological as I get @ this hour 😉 )
Great to hear that you’re on the mend mate, will be praying for you and yours…
Prayers are with you for healing!
Ok, dude, leave me alone, I’m working on it! :p
Seriously, thank you for the reminder. I’m finding it hard to get away and have “me” time so that I can process and heal. But thinking back to my last surgery, I had to say no to a lot of invites because I wasn’t physically capable. Right now, maybe it would be ok to say no to some invites because I’m not emotionally or spiritually capable.
I’m gonna look at some things again in light of this and re-work my priorities. Thanks for the perspective.
Praying for your speedy recovery and I hope you’re not being too bad a patient for Jenny :p
Hey,
I totally agree with your view that we try to avoid pain. But God does allow it. When we have suffered in the flesh, we are finished with sin, comes from a good book.
I often think about that when I’m in pain, and usually need to repent of something when I’m going through it.
Prayin’ you’ll mend quickly, and God will teach you what He wants you to know during this time.
This blog reminds me of Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” It also reminds me of how Jesus went through so much pain. As this is Lent, I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ walk at Calvary and the cross. I really can not comprehend what physical, mental and spiritual pain Jesus must have went through! I am in awe of His endurance, I am in awe of His love. Last night at Bible study I was reminded of Hebrews 12:2, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus endured pain by focusing on the joy that He would receive when so many souls would be freed from the chains of hell! Any pain we feel likely has no comparison with the pain He endured. I wonder how ever could He have done it???!!?? He, who was accustomed to the comforts, the beauty, the pleasure of Heaven???!!!?? How could He go through such pain when He had experienced painlessness in Heaven??? It amazes me! It truly amazes me! Anyway, keep on keeping on in your recovery, Todd! God is with you! This too shall pass!