Just yesterday, I was going for a short run of less than three miles, and about a ½ mile into I started noticing a moderate pain in the back of my left knee and immediately thought ‘well that’s new, I hope it’s not something serious.’ Since I was on a ‘fun run’, I backed off a little and kept going to see if it got worse, and it actually went away after about a minute or so. If it would have persisted, I would have likely cut my run short and started walking to not injure myself any more. As we get older, we all experience more aches and pains as our health starts to gradually decline and arthritis increases in certain places, but it can also be a good thing to warn us of something that needs attention. When it persists, it causes us to look at that warning light and address the problem that is going on with that body part. Whether good or bad pain, it allows us to be aware of what is going on in our bodies. Have you ever thought of pain as a good thing?
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
Now, I’ve known and worked with people who suffer from chronic pain conditions in their joints, internal pain, or frequent migraines and understand that those are not good situations, when you cannot shut those pain signals off. It is not always obvious to others, but it can be debilitating. Those who live with these conditions may not always state what is going on, but they often just move on and deal with the hurt. Those who suffer from mental illness are also not always showing externally what is going on internally, until you interact and go through life with them, then you want to help or fix what is going on and alleviate their struggles. Our temporary aches and pains may seem mile in comparison to what others are dealing with on a daily basis. What is your response when a friend or family member is struggling with hurt of pain of different types?
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
I do look forward to the day when we will all have bodies that are not subject to the physical, emotional, and mental pain that we experience in this life. When those trapped in their bodies by diseases like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, ALS, mental illness and every other painful condition under the sun, including hate, will be no more. When the pain of death and disease will be eliminated and we can experience what God meant for us to be fully alive. Can you imagine that type of place where you live with your Creator for eternity? Its something to look forward to.
Yours in Christ,
Clark
