I watched the flames flicker in the gas fireplace as I warmed my cold sore hands above the vent. I closed my eyes and I started to imagine the heat melting away the pain in my joints only leaving the soothing sensation of relief from old injuries I have acquired through the years.
I began to think about pain and why God allows it. Why does God let me hurt? Why doesn’t he make it stop? I asked God why? Then I heard the holy spirit answer, “Pain isn’t meant to hurt you, it’s meant to tell you when something is wrong, when something doesn’t feel right, and when something needs to change. Pain is not an enemy to run from but a friend to help guide you. It helps you learn your limits, it tells you what not to eat, it tells you when you’re sick, it tells you when you need to move, and when you need to rest.”
Stunned for a second I pondered the idea of befriending the pain I’ve been avoiding for so long and it all started to make sense. How amazing is it that God could make our bodies so advanced that they already know when something is wrong before our minds can comprehend and our mouths can put into words what is going on inside.
Then I said to God, “Sure putting it that way makes it sound less intimidating but what about the illnesses and diseases that slowly lead to death?”
To which the holy spirit answered, “You are all caterpillars crawling around this world in your cocoons waiting for your spirits to burst out and take to the sky. Some transformations are quicker than others but for those who believe in Jesus the destination for all is the same. There is a lesson from every type of pain, pain doesn’t try to hurt you and death of the body is not to be feared as long as you are saved through Jesus Christ. You don’t have to suffer in this world because Jesus took your pain, sickness, sins, and death on himself. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”
I know that God can take pain and use it for good. One of the most painful nights of my life was also my greatest experience with God and proof that he exists. I held my mom’s hand as she took her last breath after a long battle with breast cancer. When I felt her leave I felt peace in my spirit, I felt warmth, I felt God.
God showed me a glimpse of heaven that night and used her last breath to show me what I have to look forward to. The eyes of the flesh saw sorrow but the eyes of the spirit saw hope. I found comfort with Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”
Romans 8:28 says, ” We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, those whom he has called according to his plan.”
I have had a lot of time to think about what my mom experienced and I know that God took her cancer and used it for good. He used it to prepare her body so that her spirit could break free from this earth and she could be with him for all eternity.
In John chapter 9 Jesus heals the man who was born blind. The disciples question Jesus about why the man had been blind since birth, they asked if it was him or his parents that sinned which caused the blindness? Jesus answered,” neither this man nor his parents sinned. This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. We must do the works of Him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world”(John 9:3).
Sickness and health problems are part of the world and the devil will use them against you because he is of the world, but remember in John 16:33 Jesus says that he has overcome the world! When we accept the holy spirit into our hearts we have the ability to overcome the sickness and pain we feel. God gives us the opportunity to use our worldly experiences to reach people who don’t know him. Pain is a bridge between the physical self and the spiritual self, someone without God can get stuck in their physical problems and feel like the pain will never end. Someone who has been born again is set free from the physical world, we as believers are supposed to look up beyond the things of this world.
If life seems like it’s pulling you beneath a wave of physical problems and all you see is darkness drowning you, look up and take the hand of Jesus. Not only does he walk on water and calm the storms but he is the living water and the power behind the storms. Like the blind man who believed and gained his sight your eyes can be opened to the truth and reason of your suffering.
So why does God allow us to feel pain and go through sickness?
Because he is a great physician, healthy people don’t need a doctor, the sick do.
God uses everything for good and by his stripes we are healed!