“Where do you hurt?” your mother would ask. Between the tears you would
try to get out the words or at least the area. Sometimes blood would be a give
away, sometimes a black eye or bruised knee. But sometimes the pain comes from
inside, and you cannot describe it. Your stomach could hurt, it may be bad
tacos or nerves over asking a girl out. It may be fear of anticipation, or for
disappointment. It may be physical, psychological, or even imagined. I cannot
even imagine imagined pain. But as much as we hate the pain, and will do
anything to avoid it, pain is created for one very specific reason, to tell us
that there is something wrong. Something not functioning as designed.
Something that needs attention, and the more pain the sooner. Yet it is hard to
think of pain as doing good...yet it may save your life. Pain is not the cause,
not the symptom. It is a warning device to tell we have a problem, and that it
must be dealt with. Yet we often cry, “Lord, please take away this pain...” and
maybe we have found the real reason for pain. To draw us to God. But first
some examples of pain to guide us.
Years ago Jay Springsteen, AMA number 1 plate holder would get sick before
each race. A nausea would come over him just before starting, and sometimes he
couldn’t race. Experts blamed it on nerves, some neurological event they
couldn’t find, or some internal malady. After many tests over many years, they
still didn’t have the answer. It was only after a physical and a blood test
they found him to be diabetic. The adrenalin rush before each race sent him
into overload, and he got sick, and blacked out. Without the pain, he never
would have known the cause, and would have eventually died from non-treatment.
Pain saved his life, although it took years. Which is why doctors practice
medicine, and we wonder why didn’t they catch this in the beginning? Wouldn’t
a simple blood test have caught it? How many times did they treat a symptom,
never finding the cause?
And to me that is so familiar. Too familiar. Over three years ago I went
to my family doctor complaining of a severe pain in my upper back. I was told
it was a pinched nerve, and he advised a shot he couldn’t give. The pain would
come and go, mostly come, and after riding 1000 miles in 100 degree heat, the
pain was too much. I was sick, throwing up, and wanting to sleep. I had no
choice, so going to an urgent care, they gave me doses of ringers solution, they
thought I was dehydrated. And 4 hours later was back out, just as sick. The
next day I was worse, so Theresa called the pain clinic in Durango, located at
the hospital. A cancelation had allowed me to get in, by now I was in a
wheelchair. And being pushed into the office, my head threw back, my eyes
rolled back into my head, and she rushed me to the ER. I would wake up almost 2
days later, being loaded on a life flight helicopter, they had found an aneurism
on the back side of my aorta, 3% survival rate, and my pericardial sack filled
with pus, I had a staph infection. My kidneys were functioning below 50%. I
was told the pain was excruciating, and I yelled many times, my symptoms had
been treated, who would have thought I was having severe heart problems? And of
course it got worse, when my aorta exploded. But without the severe pain, who
knows how far they would have gone? How many have been labeled OK in the ER,
then sent home and died? Without the excruciating pain urging them on, I might
be dead now. I never want to experience that pain again, but it just may have
saved my life.
So God allows pain for our good, I cannot explain it, but talking with a
friend yesterday, still suffering after a painful divorce, we agreed pain is
part of God’s plan to keep us on our knees, and seeking him. He will take us
through, and even give us a testimony to share, and only he can soften the pain,
for only he knows where the pain comes from and why. 2 Corinthians 12 tells
about a thorn in the side given to Paul, and how God would not remove it. To
the uninitiated, that sounds harsh, but “thorn in the side,” was a colloquialism
for a person God allows to harass you in your walk with God, to keep you seeking
him, and never getting comfortable in life. And because of that thorn, Paul
spent years in jail, was beaten, flogged, shipwrecked, and finally beheaded.
Each time the gospel going forth, the reality of Jesus Christ becoming more real
in his life, his testimony increasing. Today I find many in churches, and
outside, stirring up trouble. Thorns in the side of me and others who believe.
Yet they keep us on our knees, and bring us face to face with Jesus every day.
And as hard as it may seem, without them we might not grow. Remember history
tells us that every time Christians were persecuted, the gospel spread, as they
were forced to evacuate and migrate to other places. So when James tells us to
call it a good thing when we are persecuted, or endure trials, it all works for
good, if only we can follow God through it. And he does have a plan, grace and
mercy, as today I am healthy with a new aorta, and a scar to prove Jesus was
there. Even my cardiologist told me “it is evident God intervened.” In my
pain, God shone through, and in the midst of my agony, Jesus never left. It was
all about him, and still is today. I never want to go through that again, just
take me home Lord, but my testimony is powerful, and I am the only one in
medical history to have what I had. And if anyone else ever experiences what I
had, they will study my case, and my testimony will go forth again. Today I
have a glimpse of what being a unique, begotten son is. And my testimony God has
given me has touched many. Only a loving God could write a story like that, and
he isn’t finished yet. So be like it says in Revelation 1, where John bore
witness of these things. Tell of the wonders of Christ, bear witness. Show the
scars only God can heal, and encourage others. Give them hope. Love them in
their adversity.
So don’t ignore that pain in the neck, or in the chest. God may be saving
your life, get it checked out-NOW! But when the pain comes, run to Jesus, and
let him take over. When others persecute you, criticize you, or talk harshly
about you, turn it over to God. Some people will come into your life just to
irritate, love them. Watch as the gospel goes forth and God changes their
heart. Avoid them when told too, you don’t want or message of hope to be
associated with their questionable doctrines. Seek Jesus in all things, cry out
when it hurts, praise him because he has everything under control. Remember
that in Hebrews it tells us “he is the shining glory of God, and holds all
things together.” He kept Paul alive to write and testify, he held my heart so
I am here today. If possible, you would see the nail prints from the hands
holding my heart together. The doctors offer no response, other than it is a
miracle. He is so big he has the whole world in his hands, yet so small he can
hold your heart together. Your marriage. Your pain and suffering. Take heed
in the old children’s song, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me
so.” We will never be able to understand all the pain he bore on the cross, but
he allows us a glimpse into it when we hurt. And he is there. At one time we
had tablets of stone the law was written on, now God has written his love on our
hearts. And I can prove it, I have a beautiful scar to prove Jesus saves. He
held my heart in his hands, imagine what he can do for you.
Maybe that is why his hands will always be scarred, to eternally remind us
of what he did. He saved our lives, when no other way would or could. So next
time some other god comes before you, ask to see his hands. Only the true God,
Jesus will have nail prints in his. Accept no substitute, or other diagnosis.
Jesus is the way, I know, I’ve seen him. And I want to go back. Momentary
light afflictions the Bible calls them. So where do you hurt?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com