Today’s lesson is about pain. We all have pain. Physical pain, mental pain, spiritual pain, emotional pain. Pain is what defines us and who we are, or so we think. Someone the other day said you are always positive. I said no, but I chose as much as possible to be positive. I can be down in the dumps and complain all the time but it isn’t going to do me any good at all. I have physical pain. My knee is jacked up. I can’t run right now, even walking stinks. But I can still help out, I can still hug, and still use my other gifts. To me, pain is a great tool of satan and evil. Why do I say that? Pain can stop us from doing what we want to. It can limit our ability to serve others. When we feel spiritually disconnected and in pain, we only see the negative. When our thoughts are negative, we don’t want to see a brother or sister in need. When depression overwhelms you, which is a pain, keeping yourself alive seems like a monumental task.

If we look at why we have pain, the biological reason, it’s to alert us that someone is wrong in our body. That tells us to take our hand of a hot stove. It tells us that we have a cut and need to bandage it. When we have spiritual pain, it tells us that we are disconnected from the Lord. Too often we don’t answer that call. We don’t listen to our spirit and feed it the way we would feed our body when it is hungry.

From Techzerofour on Twitter

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

“Then I would still have this consolation—
    my joy in unrelenting pain—
    that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.” – Job 6:10

Pain stinks. It can limit us in so many ways. But if we look at what that pain is tellings us. Can we see beyond the pain and look at the causes? Can we see what other avenues are opened up? I may not be able to run with a bum knee, but can I teach someone to run? Can I read a book to someone who can’t read? Can I comfort the downtrodden? Yes. None of this is easy. Pain is not something that can be dismissed, but if we concentrate on how to use it and what other doors are open rather than that which limits us, we may find more peace.

Are you willing to acknowledge you spiritual pain? Are you willing to try to see what doors God is opening to you through your pain?

I am willing (with the help of God)

#63of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney