Nothing Hurts

Like he’d done for the past several decades, John turned off his alarm clock and rolled over to kiss his wife Sally good morning.   He was usually greeted with a “Good morning!” but this day was different.  Instead she said, “don’t touch me!  I’m dead!”  Puzzled, John said, “What are you talking about?  You’re fine.  We’re both lying next to each other.  You’re not dead!”  She insisted that this was still the case. 

Her explanation?  “I woke up this morning and nothing hurts... so I must be dead!”

Do you experience daily pain?  I’m not talking about creaking bones or muscles... but a whole other type of discomfort....

Do you wake up feeling guilty?  Burdened?  Alone?  Troubled by your past actions, your current thoughts, or your mistakes?  These aren’t the kinds of aches that just go away... they linger and fester inside your mind and heart until they become nearly unbearable. 

But they can be healed.    All it takes is a little rest. 

Matthew 11:28 (NLT) “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”

Jesus says that if we want to stop the pain and heal... we need to bring those things to Him.  We should confess them through our prayers and tell Him in our times of quiet reflection.  So many of us say that we’ve done this but few actually have.  Sure, we say we have “given it all to God” but then are quick to rush back to the foot of the cross and pick up our trouble again just in case God needs help taking care of it.

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

He is the Alpha and Omega.

He is the beginning and the end.

He spoke the world into existence and is stronger than any storm.

He is the miracle maker and ultimate problem solver.

He doesn’t need our help being God.

His timing is perfect.

His power is infinite.

His commitment to us is unflinching and His shoulders are wide enough for the heaviest of troubles.

It’s time to wake up. 

Not roll over in pain and wonder how we’re going to limp through another day.

Not writhe our hands in worry and doubt we have the strength to go on.

It’s time to remember that He WANTS to carry our burdens.

He WANTS to give us strength when we’re weary. 

He WANTS us to live at peace knowing that He’s always on the job... working behind the scenes in ways we don’t realize.

Matthew 11:28 (NLT) “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”

Need some rest today?

Give up trying to fix things your own way and give them to God.

Leave them there.

Trust. 

I’ll be praying for you as you do.   

Pain, Prayer and Peace

Tony Campolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. 

That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Campolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been healed! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Compolo felt terrible.

But she continued, "Don’t feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn’t take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence.

But the lady told Compolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, his last three days were his best days in a long long time.”

There are three things we can learn about pain in Tony’s story...

1. Pain is purposeful

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “…even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Even though we may be hurting... God will not let that pain be wasted.  Like the Apostle Paul (and the husband in our story above), we may be asking God to take away what hurts.  If He were to do that, we would miss out on the growth that will come as a result of enduring through it.   A lesson learned without pain is sometimes a lesson we have to learn again.  It seems that time after time in scripture we find breakthrough only comes with breakage... of hearts, of self, of desires, or of our own attitudes.

When we begin to see our challenges through God’s lens, we realize that it is in our lowest points that we receive our greatest blessings.   At the end of your rope?  Feeling at the bottom of the pit?  Don’t give up.  Your pain matters and God will use it.  Not for torment... but for triumph.   

2)  Prayer is powerful 

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.”  Colossians 1:9

The husband in today’s story appreciated the prayer from Tony Campolo.  You can picture the scene... he comes home full of hope... ready for the cancer he was battling to fall away under the mighty declared word from a strong and powerful prayer.  

He wanted a healing prayer.  God healed him.  It just wasn’t the way the man expected it.  

When it didn’t happen right away, the man became bitter and thought that God was ignoring him.  In actuality, God had every intention of granting his request.  By calling him home to Heaven.  Prayer is powerful and important.  We need to do it with faith.  But what kind of faith?  Faith that God can do it?  (We know He can).  Faith that He’ll do it quickly?  (God does things in His own perfect time).  Faith that it will be done the way we want it to come out?  (most of us want our prayers answered our own specific way).   

No.

We need to pray with the faith that (when it comes to healing) God always says yes.  God always heals.  Sometimes right away...sometimes a delay for our growth... and sometimes to call us home.   

Prayer shouldn’t be a last ditch effort... it should be the powerful first step.  Pray expectantly... pray intentionally... and pray faithfully.  God knows what’s best...and He always brings healing.  

3. Peace is possible

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

This young lady’s husband went to Heaven with a smile on his soul.   How?

Before God said yes and healed him by bringing him home... He gave him a great gift... peace.  Tony Campolo prayed with him... and the power of God showered his heart with   an unexplainable sense of calm.  

Feeling stressed about your pain?   How long has it been bothering you?

Looking like the situation is hopeless?  helpless?  empty?

Remember... Jesus can calm the storm.  With a simple word, Christ made the waves cease and the clouds part.  Panic was replaced with perspective.  The Alpha and Omega... Prince of Peace... Lord and Savior of the Universe came to earth so that we can overcome.

Your pain... He feels it.

Your heartbreak... He feels it.

Your setback... He feels it.

Your life... He sees it.   Pray out.  Claim healing.  He will be there.  When the waves crash against the side of your life... don’t cower and shrink back.  There is nothing on this planet that Christ can’t guide you through.  Peace is not only possible in chaos... God specializes in providing it.  

And when you hurt.  He heals.  Every time.  

Your pain has a purpose... your prayer has power... and peace is possible. 

Stay strong and know that I am praying for your restoration.  

Hurt

Pierre Renoir was a famous French artist who was known for his paintings, mostly depicting family life. But there was one disease that tormented this gifted artist -- he had arthritis that plagued him to the tip of his fingers. Each brushstroke forcing a grimace to his face... It took him a long time to finish one masterful work of art. One of his friends urged him to stop painting and focus on his health. Renoir kept going... even though it hurt.  

For so many... pain is very real.   Sometimes it comes from a physical condition...other times it’s emotional scarring... relationship damage... poor choices... or even self-inflicted loathing or pity.  In any case, it hurts.  Badly.  But one thing I’ve found in all my years of ministry... pain precedes progress.  What we see as a hindrance...a barrier... God allows into our lives so that we can develop the necessary skills and character to become an overcomer... a person who knows what they’ve been through so they don’t have to be scared about what’s coming.  

If you are hurting right now as you read this, hold on.  Don’t quit.  I know it hurts.  But I also know this... breakthrough is coming.  Pain is temporary...God is permanent.  He’s not going to give up on you and you are going to be different as a result of your perseverance.   

Blocking Pain

Isaac Brown looks like any other five year old boy.   He’s learning to read, do basic math, and all of the other things a boy his age would do.  But all is not what it seems…  because Isaac lacks what so many of us take for granted… the ability to feel pain.  He can unflinchingly touch a hot stove, break a bone without knowing it, or step on broken glass.  He knows that when he sees blood, it’s not a good thing… and he needs to seek help.   This extremely rare genetic condition, if not kept under watchful eye, could lead to accidental death or disfigurement due to the lack of a built-in survival mechanism.

Ironically, many in the world envy his circumstances…. they would love to go 24 hours without a single bit of pain.  And not just physical pain… people want to block out emotional and relational hurt as well.  What they fail to realize is that pain is useful.  When we touch a hot stove, the nerve endings signal the brain to remove the hand… thus preserving the skin and our health.  That pain has a purpose.   And no matter how badly you hurt today… yours does too.  Maybe you find yourself going through some other type of pain… a breakup… a loss… a memory of someone who used to abuse you… I want to challenge you to think of that pain differently today. James tells us in Chapter 1, verse 2, that our pain should be a source of joy.  Joy?  We should be happy when things hurt?  Why?  Because we know three things:  God will walk with us through that pain, we will grow as a result of hurting, and that our experience will help others in similar situations in the future.  So today, don’t just wish for the pain to subside… ask God to help you leverage it for growth… knowing that it is through our deepest hurts that our greatest and most life-changing lessons are learned.  

No Retreat

 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Researchers have discovered that athletes have a higher pain tolerance than non-athletes. It seems both men and women who play team sports can stand more pain than those involved in other less intense activities.  Their recommendation?  If you deal with a lot of everyday pain... get active... you’ll feel healthier and more resistant to discomfort.  

Great advice!  But when it comes to the pains of life... many of us do the opposite.  When it hurts...we retreat... we become afraid.  Timid.  Unsure of what God can do or if the pain will ever end.  Scripture tells us in Joshua 1:9 to be strong!  Be courageous when it hurts because God is with us!   When life gets challenging, don’t shrink back or  just stand there in pain... step boldly forward... stay active and connected to God...  and soon you’ll find yourself stronger and more tolerant to what used to hurt you.  

Painless?

Isaac Brown looks like any other five year old boy.   He’s learning to read, do basic math, and all of the other things a boy his age would do.  But all is not what it seems…  because Isaac lacks what so many of us take for granted… the ability to feel pain.  He can unflinchingly touch a hot stove, break a bone without knowing it, or step on broken glass.  He knows that when he sees blood, it’s not a good thing… and he needs to seek help.   This extremely rare genetic condition, if not kept under watchful eye, could lead to accidental death or disfigurement due to the lack of a built-in survival mechanism.

Ironically, many in the world envy his circumstances…. they would love to go 24 hours without a single bit of pain.  And not just physical pain… people want to block out emotional and relational hurt as well.  What they fail to realize is that pain is useful.  When we touch a hot stove, the nerve endings signal the brain to remove the hand… thus preserving the skin and our health.  That pain has a purpose.   And no matter how badly you hurt today… yours does too.  Maybe you find yourself going through some other type of pain… a breakup… a loss… a memory of someone who used to abuse you… I want to challenge you to think of that pain differently today. James tells us in Chapter 1, verse 2, that our pain should be a source of joy.  Joy?  We should be happy when things hurt?  Why?  Because we know three things:  God will walk with us through that pain, we will grow as a result of hurting, and that our experience will help others in similar situations in the future.  So today, don’t just wish for the pain to subside… ask God to help you leverage it for growth… knowing that it is through our deepest hurts that our greatest and most life-changing lessons are learned.

Purpose of Pain

Mark Twain is quoted as saying “We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it – and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove top. She will never sit down on a hot stove top again, and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.”

Have you ever been burned by an experience?  Ever felt pain from a relationship and were hesitant to get involved in another one?   Have you ever served on a team and been rejected or disillusioned?  Twain’s quote is accurate however tragic.  Every pain has a lesson... every trial a bit of wisdom.  But it is tempting to get hurt and completely withdraw from ever doing anything like it again.  James 1:4-5 tells us that the purpose of pain is perseverance, maturity, and growth.  If you’ve been hurt, resist the urge to never try again.  Pick yourself up... seek the wisdom to learn from it... and get back in there.  You’ll be glad you did.  

Real Pain

Pierre Renoir is a famous French artist who was known for his paintings, mostly depicting family life. But there was one disease that tormented this gifted artist -- he had arthritis that plagued him to the tip of his fingers. Each brushstroke forcing a grimace to his face... It took him a long time to finish one masterful work of art. One of his friends urged him to stop painting and focus on his health. Renoir kept going... even though it hurt.  

God talks about pain in His word:  “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”  Romans 5:3-5

For so many... that level of pain is very real.   Sometimes it comes from a physical condition...other times it’s emotional scarring... relationship damage... poor choices... or even self-inflicted loathing or pity.  In any case, it hurts.  Badly.  But one thing I’ve found in all my years of ministry... pain precedes progress.  What we see as a mountain… a barrier... God allows into our lives so that we can develop the necessary skills and character to become an overcomer... a person who knows what they’ve been through so they don’t have to be scared about what’s coming.  If you are hurting right now as you read this, hold on.  Don’t quit.  I know it hurts.  But I also know this... breakthrough is coming.  Pain is temporary...God is permanent.  He’s not going to give up on you and you are going to be different as a result of your perseverance.   

Silver

The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study.  While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says:

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;”  Malachi 3:3a

This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement applied to the character and nature of God.  One of the women offered to find out more about the process of refining silver, and to get back to the group at their next Bible

study.  The following week, the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him while at work.  She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. 

As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities. 

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver was being refined.  The man answered yes, that not only did he have to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. 

If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. 

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the

silversmith, "But how do you know when the silver is fully refined?" 

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that’s easy - when I see my image in it."

Trials bring pain.  No news there...   When things are challenging...when they take us to the breaking point... we hurt.   Many of us wonder if the pain will ever stop.  And when it does, some just sit and wait for it to start again.  

Trial by fire.  Refining fire.  

Why me Lord? It’s easy to ask that when troubles come. We turn our eyes to Heaven and wonder what we’ve done to deserve what we’re going through.  Did we make God angry?  Is our Heavenly Father getting even with us?  Are we so bad that we’re being punished?  No.  Whether we are dealing with consequences from our own poor decisions... or life’s circumstances... or the choices made by someone else... we hurt.     We might not have created the pain... but it’s there and we have to deal with it.

Life gets heated.  Sometimes unbearably so.  

But it’s in that time of intense fire that things are burned away that never belonged.  New discoveries are made.  Our way of thinking changes...

We realize how deep our faith goes.

We see how big our God is.

We conclude that life is meant to be lived with others.

We understand that those other people care...and they’ll walk with us.

We learn what to do next time.

We reset our priorities.

We learn that God’s timing is always perfect.

We discover who runs the universe (and it isn’t us).

We develop patience.

We get stronger.

We have the chance to grow closer to Christ.

We appreciate times of peace in our lives more.

We get mad and shake our fists at the universe.  

But God... our loving God waits patiently with His arms outstretched.  

He understand heartache firsthand.  Intense heartache.  But God allows us to experience pain so that we can accomplish our purpose.  

Those fires in your life...those trials... are making you stronger.  And make no mistake...just like the silversmith...when the heat comes your way, God doesn’t move.   He is there with you while you endure under it.  

Because He knows...

when it seems like you can’t take another minute under the intense flames...

when you feel like throwing in the towel...

It WILL come to an end.  You won’t be under that pain forever.  You will be victorious.  Stronger.   You will have new skills, a deeper faith, and a compelling testimony to help others through the same thing.  I wish there was some other way to grab these skills... but it seems that pain provides the deepest and most lasting lessons.

And when the fire dies out,  Christ will look down on you... with those impurities driven away... and see a pure reflection of Himself in your life.  

Pain, Prayer, Peace

Tony Campolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. 

That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Campolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been healed! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Compolo felt terrible.

But she continued, "Don’t feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn’t take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence.

But the lady told Compolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, his last three days were his best days in a long long time.”

There are three things we can learn about pain in Tony’s story...

1)  Pain is purposeful

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “…even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Even though we may be hurting... God will not let that pain be wasted.  Like the Apostle Paul (and the husband in our story above), we may be asking God to take away what hurts.  If He were to do that, we would miss out on the growth that will come as a result of enduring through it.   A lesson learned without pain is sometimes a lesson we have to learn again.  It seems that time after time in scripture we find breakthrough only comes with breakage... of hearts, of self, of desires, or of our own attitudes.

When we begin to see our challenges through God’s lens, we realize that it is in our lowest points that we receive our greatest blessings.   At the end of your rope?  Feeling at the bottom of the pit?  Don’t give up.  Your pain matters and God will use it.  Not for torment... but for triumph.   

2)  Prayer is powerful 

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.”  Colossians 1:9

The husband in today’s story appreciated the prayer from Tony Campolo.  You can picture the scene... he comes home full of hope... ready for the cancer he was battling to fall away under the mighty declared word from a strong and powerful prayer.  

He wanted a healing prayer.  God healed him.  It just wasn’t the way the man expected it.  

When it didn’t happen right away, the man became bitter and thought that God was ignoring him.  In actuality, God had every intention of granting his request.  By calling him home to Heaven.  Prayer is powerful and important.  We need to do it with faith.  But what kind of faith?  Faith that God can do it?  (We know He can).  Faith that He’ll do it quickly?  (God does things in His own perfect time).  Faith that it will be done the way we want it to come out?  (most of us want our prayers answered our own specific way).   

No.

We need to pray with the faith that (when it comes to healing) God always says yes.  God always heals.  Sometimes right away...sometimes a delay for our growth... and sometimes to call us home.   

Prayer shouldn’t be a last ditch effort... it should be the powerful first step.  Pray expectantly... pray intentionally... and pray faithfully.  God knows what’s best...and He always brings healing.  

3) Peace is possible

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

This young lady’s husband went to Heaven with a smile on his soul.   How?

Before God said yes and healed him by bringing him home... He gave him a great gift... peace.  Tony Campolo prayed with him... and the power of God showered his heart with   an unexplainable sense of calm.  

Feeling stressed about your pain?   How long has it been bothering you?

Looking like the situation is hopeless?  helpless?  empty?

Remember... Jesus can calm the storm.  With a simple word, Christ made the waves cease and the clouds part.  Panic was replaced with perspective.  The Alpha and Omega... Prince of Peace... Lord and Savior of the Universe came to earth so that we can overcome.

Your pain... He feels it.

Your heartbreak... He feels it.

Your setback... He feels it.

Your life... He sees it.   Pray out.  Claim healing.  He will be there.  When the waves crash against the side of your life... don’t cower and shrink back.  There is nothing on this planet that Christ can’t guide you through.  Peace is not only possible in chaos... God specializes in providing it.  

And when you hurt.  He heals.  Every time.  

Your pain has a purpose... your prayer has power... and peace is possible. 

Stay strong and know that I am praying for your restoration.  

Our Deepest Hurts

Isaac Brown looks like any other five year old boy.   He’s learning to read, do basic math, and all of the other things a boy his age would do.  But all is not what it seems…  because Isaac lacks what so many of us take for granted… the ability to feel pain.  He can unflinchingly touch a hot stove, break a bone without knowing it, or step on broken glass.  He knows that when he sees blood, it’s not a good thing… and he needs to seek help.   This extremely rare genetic condition, if not kept under watchful eye, could lead to accidental death or disfigurement due to the lack of a built-in survival mechanism.

Ironically, many in the world envy his circumstances…. they would love to go 24 hours without a single bit of pain.  And not just physical pain… people want to block out emotional and relational hurt as well.  What they fail to realize is that pain is useful.  When we touch a hot stove, the nerve endings signal the brain to remove the hand… thus preserving the skin and our health.  That pain has a purpose.   And no matter how badly you hurt today… yours does too.  Maybe you find yourself going through some other type of pain… a breakup… a loss… a memory of someone who used to abuse you… I want to challenge you to think of that pain differently today. James tells us in Chapter 1, verse 2, that our pain should be a source of joy.  Joy?  We should be happy when things hurt?  Why?  Because we know three things:  God will walk with us through that pain, we will grow as a result of hurting, and that our experience will help others in similar situations in the future.  So today, don’t just wish for the pain to subside… ask God to help you leverage it for growth… knowing that it is through our deepest hurts that our greatest and most life-changing lessons are learned.