Physical Pain
Physical pain is the gift no one wants. It makes the body contract in on itself around the offending part. Whether it is a muscle spasm or a migraine, the pain can crowd out the joy of life. Managing chronic physical pain slowly clouds over our hope.
What was designed to protect the body can become an enemy. Pain is supposed to remind you to wear proper shoes or to leave the cup alone until the drink inside cools. There are times, though, when the gift of protection becomes the attacker, and we suffer without any redemptive value to it.
In those moments, the reminder comes that God is near. This may be the moment of walking in the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4), but remember that the verse also says, “I will fear no evil; for You are with me.” In the middle of the pain, and each difficult day, we have a constant companion: our Savior Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ presence means that there is hope. Hope whispers the promise of a time without pain. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).