Are you in pain right now due to illness or other sorts of pain, like emotional, psychological, or even financial? And you feel that the pain is overwhelming and there’s no way out? Here’s a story shared by a certain Jane in the book, “Living Water 2009, Bible Reflections for Today’s Catholics.”
“I cringed in excruciating pain. Certain movements triggered the torture unbearably so I lay as still as possible. As a doctor, I realized the diagnosis was a problem in the spine. A few days before, I experienced some pain between the shoulder blades. But this morning I could not get up. After asking my husband and my spiritual elders for prayers, I did all that I could – lie in bed.
“Anxiety built me up as I lay in my temporary prison, but I continued to pray and rejoice. Then I heard the Lord’s voice in my heart: “Do not be afraid…The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still,” (Exodus14:13-14). And I keep still, I did! Then peace flooded in my heart. I continued to pray, eat, and drink, answer queries, and prepare for ministry services. The following day I was Ok. As Jesus healed me, He wants to heal you, too!”
The Bible Study Tools website reminds, “We all experience pain, whether emotional or physical pain. No pain is alike, we must all walk the journey and path that God has for our lives, yet God promises that there is a purpose in all pain. We can press on each day knowing that our God loves us and wants to use the hurt and pain in this world to bring Him glory.”
There are Bible verses that can make us understand the purpose of pain in our life and encourage us to thank God in the midst of suffering. The following are the verses cited by our source:
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the Lord order of things has passed away.”
Psalm 23:1 -6, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
2 Corinthians 1: 3 – 5: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”