387. Gift of Pain
Not too long ago, my youngest daughter bumped into a corner and, while in pain, asked me why God made us feel pain. She argued that since pain is “unpleasant”, her life would be better without it. Given the pain she was feeling I understood where she was coming from. Then I answered that life would be horrible if we weren’t able to feel any pain because we would continue to do dangerous things that harm our bodies if we did not feel any pain. This made me reflect more on the nature of pain.
Though it might be difficult to accept at first, pain is a gift. Imagine hot water spilling all over your arms and yet, you don’t even flinch because you don’t feel any pain. Pain allows us to respond appropriately so we can change our behaviour or avoid danger. It applies not just to physical pain but to relational pain, financial pain, etc. Though we don’t celebrate nor enjoy pain itself (I don’t like pain!), it is undeniable that God allows us to feel pain for a reason. Pain allows us to pause, reflect and change our current choices and behaviours.
Without the pain I felt in my neck, I would have probably continued with the wrong posture and pattern of movements, which might have caused bigger problems in my spine. Because of the pain, I paused my exercise routines and reflected on why I was hurting. Because it wasn't clear to me why I was hurting, I sought help. Through that, I discovered why I developed such a condition and found different behaviours to practice. Pain disrupts our complacency and forces us to seek outside help. Pain humbles us, so we can take a better look at our lives with humility and honesty. Because there is always a cause for pain which we must pay attention to.
Lastly, pain increases our anticipation of “heaven”. When I was younger, the idea of heaven was just a splendid place. But one of the things that comforts me the most now is that heaven is without pain. (Rev 21:4) Pain reminds us that we shouldn’t be content perpetually in life on earth. Pain will be inevitable, especially as we get older. But instead of denying its purpose, when we see it as a gift that reminds us that this earth is not our final home, our hope for heaven will only grow. Because of pain on earth, our experience of heaven later will only be sweeter.
