In His Name Devotionals
GAIN WITHOUT PAIN?
In His Name Devotionals
GAIN WITHOUT PAIN?
Fitness buffs have a saying about exercise and physical strength. “No pain, no gain” affirms that the strengthening of a human body is increased by pushing a muscle past its point of all previous ability and endurance. And, on one account anyway, that doesn’t happen until the muscle fiber begins to break apart and the nerves inside register the pain. Then nature overcompensates for what has happened, making the muscle stronger than before.
Whether that sort of pain is an essential element of physical strengthening, I can’t say. But I do believe that it is true of spiritual growth, conditioning and improvement.
When patience is extended beyond it previous limits, there is the pain of apprehension and irritation—with the accompanying opportunity to learn perseverance.
When courage goes past all previous bounds, there is the pain of hesitation, dread and fear—with the accompanying opportunity to learn how to be brave.
When optimism has been stretched beyond all reasonable boundaries, there is the heartbreaking pain of melancholy and depression—with its attendant chance to learn hope.
When faith has been carried beyond all past experience and training, there is misgiving and doubt—with the challenge to learn to trust God.
Haven’t you known a few people whose character and spiritual life made them memorable to everyone who knew them. We wished to be more like them. We saw them and marveled at their nearness to God. We also knew what had made them who they were: pain—and wanted no part of it.
Sometimes the pain was physical, but always emotional and spiritual. It went past all reasonable bounds, stretching them beyond anything we could endure. But with the pain came the possibility of gain. It didn’t break, embitter or destroy. It taught them to lean on the strength of God’s everlasting arms.
Life isn’t faith. It never has been and never will be. Job said, “A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble, comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last” (14:1).
During this once-around trip called life, some choose to complain and whine about their fate. Others allow God to turn their pain into gain.
The experience of being mortal won’t change. One’s attitude can.
