How should we respond to pain?
Discussion question for March 5, 2010.
We know people who suffer pain, and sometimes it is chronic pain. Since each person is responsible for how they respond to pain, what are they to do? What do you do with physical pain in your body? How do you respond to emotional pain? Under what circumstances are you willing to accept pain and suffering?
Here’s my summary of our discussion.
Physical pain in my body should first drive me to investigate my life for the source of that pain. All pain comes from sin and can be useful for pointing me away from sin. God’s desire is that I be in unrestricted relationship with Him. When I am in conflict with His design for me, it will show up as pain. I can use pain as an indicator of areas in my life that need to change.
There may be times when physical pain in my body is not alleviated, even though I make changes to align myself with God. His purpose continues to be calling me to closer relationship with Him. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 describes how we can be comforted by Him in our pain, and that it prepares us to comfort others. The pain may not go away, but through it we identify ourselves with Christ by accepting pain as a consequence of others’ sin (sinful world).
The risk of chronic pain, or any pain that is not alleviated, is that I allow it to become my identity. This is a trap from the enemy. We must overcome, because God’s idea of our identity is not defined by our pain or condition that causes it. Accepting the abuse of pain in the role of a victim is a sure sign of giving in to that identity.
All pain, whether emotional or physical, should drive me to God and open my eyes to my identity in Him. His purpose for my life is more than just managing my pain, or giving me a life that looks good by comparison to others. His purpose is for my perfect comfort – and long term to be in perfect communion with Him. Striving after a worldly view of perfection is hopeless.
Chronic pain in others should be a trigger for me to act in compassion for them. The risk is that my judgmental nature will define their pain and identity based on their choices and sin. That keeps me from comforting them in the way God has comforted me. I should rush in to help them discover and accept their true identity in Christ, despite the overwhelming pressure they have to accept an identity of the pain victim.