The Blessing In Pain

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

“She doesn’t feel pain in her hands and feet,” my mother explained to me one day while we were talking about a family member who had recently been diagnosed with a debilitating condition. “It’s actually kind of scary because she could hurt herself and not know it. She wouldn’t know if there was something wrong that needed attention. And with everything else she has going on physically, it’s really kind of dangerous.”

I sighed, unsure how to respond.

“You would think that was a good thing, not to feel pain,” I said, “but I can see how it’s actually not.”

“I know,” my mom said. “Please be praying for her.”

“Of course, I will,” I responded before we hung up.

The rest of the day I couldn’t help but think about the person and then stop and pray for her. I realized that what most of us try to avoid—pain, whether emotional or physical—can actually save our lives. Feeling pain lets us know that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. And when we acknowledge pain and focus on finding a solution for it, healing can occur. When we don’t feel pain or choose to ignore it, whatever is causing the pain continues to fester and can destroy us, body and soul.

Maybe that’s why God promises that he will be with us when we feel like we are in deep water and that when difficulties come at us like a relentless river, we won’t drown. When oppression feels like flames around us, it won’t burn us up. Because even though we will walk through seasons of pain, God will be there. Keeping us afloat. Joining in our suffering. Healing us through the pain. He won’t always remove us from pain, but he will stay with us as we address it with his help and guidance.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

When have you experienced pain that you can now look back on with gratitude that God was with you during that time? Spend time in prayer thanking God for his faithfulness.