Pains And Promises To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 A New Testament professor, Dr. J.D. Allen, had a favorite saying that has stuck with me through the years; If I went to the hospital with acute appendicitis, I would want someone to take a knife to me, not to rub butter on my belly. Let’s make an imaginary trip to the hospital with Dr. Allen. He is diagnosed with appendicitis. He is given pain medication. The pain stops and he is sent home. The absence of pain does not mean that healing has taken place. Very shortly Dr. Allen will be back, but with more serious problems than before. If he had been operated on and the diseased appendix removed, real healing could have started. Please don’t ask people to pray that your pain goes away. Jesus will give you the comfort that is needed, but then He wants to do His work in your life. Then as you are healing, the Holy Spirit, in response to your prayers, he can start that cutting away process in your life. What does the Bible say about pain and suffering? - Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. I Peter 4:12-13 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. Psalm 69:29 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 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. I Peter 2:19 Can you grasp it? Your Lord God wants to be more than a spiritual aspirin to take away the pain. Yes, He certainly will be your comfort while He corrects the problems as you allow Him to do so. Now let’s look at what the Bible says about promises during pain: Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Psalm 119:116 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21 This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. Jeremiah 32:42 Yes, there is much pain encountered in this life. More for some than others but ALL experience pain. Family, ministers, therapists, friends & counseling centers can’t take away that pain but you can be introduced to Jesus, who is the Healer of lives. Do you recall Paul’s thorn in the flesh from the verse where we started?. Let’s read on to the next two verses: But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Do not be satisfied with someone rubbing butter on the belly of your hurts. Be open to the Great Physician’s plans for your healing. He alone is your answer. No pain....no gain. Peace and blessings to you and yours.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:23:12 +0000
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