<\/a>If I am being completely honest and transparent with you, I’m struggling.\u00a0 I’m wrestling with the mental affects of chronic pain.\u00a0 Now, chronic pain can be labeled in different ways and is usually reserved for pain that has no real end in sight.\u00a0 Hopefully, that is not the definition for me.<\/p>\nI have been dealing with some form of pain in my left shoulder for over a year.\u00a0 It’s a very life-altering thing that has changed how I do life in significant ways.\u00a0 I am hopeful that there is an end in sight as I am recovering from surgery performed one month ago tomorrow.\u00a0 In light of that, I have hope for normalcy.<\/p>\n
That being said, I’m still dealing with some significant pain.\u00a0 I write that not for pity, but with a mind for those who are dealing with pain much more severe than mine and with little hope for relief in the near future.\u00a0 I know something of the mental anguish that is involved with extensive physical pain.\u00a0 I understand a little of the twinges of depression that try and creep in.\u00a0 I feel the despair that lurks around the edge that maybe this will never go away. It’s very real.\u00a0 It’s very challenging.<\/p>\n
Any time we have challenges like this in our lives, it causes one or two things to happen.\u00a0 One, we get angry.\u00a0 We give into despair and begin a downward spiral of sadness, anger, rage and self-destruction.\u00a0 In short, we run away from God.\u00a0 We don’t understand why He would allow this in our lives.\u00a0 We can’t get our minds around a loving God who would allow such suffering with no relief in a way no earthly father would, if he could stop it.\u00a0 Yet, the suffering continues.<\/p>\n
A second possible response sees things differently.\u00a0 Though he hurts the same, he runs in a different direction.\u00a0 He runs to the God of all comfort in the midst of pain.\u00a0 He holds onto God’s promise that was made to Paul during his suffering: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”\u00a0 Paul’s reply, appropriately, is, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.\u00a0 For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)<\/p>\n
This second response is the one I am holding onto.\u00a0 I understand that bad things that happen in my life are not for my punishment (that was taken care of by Christ on the cross).\u00a0 Instead, as John Piper put it, they are for my purification.\u00a0 I am made strong through suffering.\u00a0 I am made more Christlike in tough times, because that is where I learn to rely on His strength rather than my own.\u00a0 I feel weak.\u00a0 I know God is strong.\u00a0 That’s the glory of the Gospel\u2026the glory of the cross.<\/p>\n
I work my shoulder everyday.\u00a0 I go to physical therapy faithfully.\u00a0 I pray for healing regularly.\u00a0 I believe it will come.\u00a0 I am content, though, knowing that in my weakness, He WILL BE strong!<\/p>\n
Hold on!<\/p>\n