Our Pain is Our Platform
When Handel wrote the “Hallelujah Chorus,” his health and his fortunes had reached the lowest possible ebb. The right side had become paralyzed, and all his money was gone. He was heavily in debt and threatened with imprisonment. He was tempted to give up the fight. The odds seemed entirely too great. And it was then that he composed his greatest work – Messiah. We can say that Handel’s pain became his platform for ministry. Are you at your lowest moment? Do the odds seem entirely too great for you?
money gone?
ridiculed and criticized?
laid-off?
mounting debt?
failed relationships?
illness?
addiction?
uncertain future?
divorced?
dead-end job?
lonely?
overwhelming pressure on your job?
Are you tempted to give up the fight? Don’t quit! Don’t sulk! Because God is always doing something, cooperate with Him, even in pain. C. S. Lewis said that pain is God’s megaphone; he uses it to get our attention. This could be your moment – the moment where God uses pain to help you compose your greatest work – a symphony of your greatest music for others. Could it be that God is ready to compose Messiah in you so that others might be blessed through you! It is only when we:
Respond to our pain appropriately (count it all joy),
Understand the reasons for our pain clearly (the testing of your faith will develop patience and patience will lead to maturity and maturity will make us ready for anything that comes our way)
Rely on our Source, in the midst of our pain, absolutely (Ask God and He will give you wisdom to understand the reasons “why” or give you the strength when “whys” are not discernible).
that pain can truly become our platform for God’s greater purpose. Let your pain become your platform to listen to God, draw closer to God and to tell others about God.
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December 8th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Let’s remember also that pain, to state the obvious, while not enjoyable is an ally. Without pain the feedback loop is short-circuited. One of the main problems leprosy creates—if not THE main problem–is that it desensitizes those infected to pain, which then creates a series of other problems, because people don’t know when something needs attention and treatment.
Without emotional pain we become indifferent and listless, and apathetic (a-pathos = without passion) which psychologists and psychiatrists might say is even more dangerous than deep grief.
Pain, if responded to correctly by the believer, drives us to the feet of God—which is always a good place to be.
December 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Well said, my friend. Thanks for reminding us that our pain, if responded to correctly, should drive us to the safe and loving arms of our God. Blessings!
December 14th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Here is something that we read in one of our *”pregnancy books’ when we were preparing for our daughter, Zamar, to arrive. It also resonated with us spiritually:
~Pain has a Purpose. There is always a reason for it. It most often brings about some kind of change.
~Pain is Anticipated. It is expected in the life/birth process. If you expact it, you be better able to deal with it.
~Pain is Intermittent. It has an ebb and flow. There are rest periods! Hallelujah!
~Pain is Normal and Natural. I think this is said best here: “Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you, but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ’s suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
(1Pe 4:12-13 MKJV)
(*Prepared Childbirth, The Family Way, Debby Amis and Jeanne Green)