Pain and Problems? We all have them. Some of them cause us much concern, while others are just a minor nuisance; some demand immediate attention, while others can be put off until a later time; and some must be taken care of by us, while others may take care of themselves or will be taken care of by others.

 We all could use someone to help us with our problems and difficulties that cause pain.  Because Belshazzar’s queen decided that Daniel was that kind of person, who was guided by the spirit of God, she told the king that he had “an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas, and solving of difficult problems” (Dan. 5:11, 12; NASB).

Through His inspired word and great power (Col. 1:11), God can help assist us in hurtful and difficult times. Also our problems and hurts in life can be beneficial to us if we will properly respond to them.

 They can:

• Direct us. Paul knew what to advise Timothy to do because the of the hurt or discomfort he was feeling in his stomach. The pain directed Timothy to the source of his problem. Paul advised him what do to cure his stomach ailment (1 Tim. 5:23). Timothy knew something was wrong because of the discomfort or hurt in his stomach. When we eat something that upsets our stomach, we realize we must not eat it again. In order to diagnose a problem a doctor may ask us where we hurt. Hurts can help direct as we journey through the confusing maze of life.

• Subject (humble) us.  Seemingly, Paul needed to be humbled, to realize his own weakness, so that he would look to God for strength. God gave him a thorn in the flesh through a messenger of Satan in order to buffet him and to keep him from exalting himself. Paul wrote, “I will rather boast in my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9b, 10). Our frailties and pain in life help us realize our weaknesses and our need of a higher power, even of God, who can help us in our times of need (Psa. 46:1; Heb. 4:16).

• Inspect us.  God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, which surely caused him to have a heavy heart. The purpose was not to destroy him but to test him. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who received the promises was offering up his only begotten son” (Heb. 11:17). Heavy weight may be used in order to determine the soundness of a bridge. The purpose is not to break down the bridge but to inspect its strength. Our problems may be given to us to determine our spiritual strength. True character may not be revealed until difficult circumstances arise.  God let Satan inspect the strength of Job's character (Job 2:3-7) through the loss his possessions and afterward through bodily sores that made him miserable. We can be tested as with fire (1 Cor. 3:13, 14).

• Protect us. Pain can help us prevent severe injuries and/or serious harm. When I was around three years old, I backed into a red hot heating stove. The moment I touched it, I jumped away, preventing excessive damage, which was prevented because of pain. A parent may use pain in punishment to keep a child from destroying his life by bad habits and wrong living (Prov. 19:18; 23:13, 14). Pain can protect us from hurtful physically and spiritually living.

• Correct and train us. Through pain in discipline children can be trained to follow correct patterns of living (Prov. 22:15; 29:15). Hurts in life that help us develop properly are very seldom pleasant, but they can be beneficial to us if we learn from them. “Now no chastening [discipline] seems to be joyful for the moment, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). “It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy statutes” (Psa. 119:71, see also verses 67 and 75).

• Perfect us. Through tribulations and trials we develop character and spiritual maturity (Rom. 5:3, 4). “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (Jas. 1:2-4). Precious metals are purified by passing raw material through fire to remove the dross and impurities, which will produce a pure product. So also we may need the fires of pain to perfect us.

• Connect us. Jesus endured the human experience, so that He could sympathize and empathize with us. Because of this He is able to connect with us in our temptations because He was where we are and saw life through our eyes. Having faced our problems, He can help us with our problems (Heb. 4:15). In the same way (Rom. 15:2, 3; Gal. 6:2), our going through life‘s struggles and hurts can lead us to feel an infinity for those who face similar problems, whether they are financial, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual. Because of such experiences, we can empathize with the hurts of others and, because of this, understand how to reach out to them when they need our help (2 Cor. 1:6; Phil 2:4).

We may not desire the hurts of life but they can be of great benefit to us. If they are very serious, we may resent them, but they can help to make us bigger and better people, if we will rise to the challenges because of them.

One promise of God is that He will not give us trials above what we are able to handle. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

Big problems and hurts might indicate that God has confidence in us that we are able to adequately deal with them and be benefited by them. He had confidence in Job (Job 2:3) and Paul (Acts 9:16). If we are strong, God may have the same confidence in us to be good followers of His regardless how ferociously the storms of life beat on us.

Let us never forget that through such discipline God shows His love for us (Heb. 12:6).
 

©Copyright Owen D.Olbricht 2014. All rights reserved. May be reprinted if credit is given to the author.