Pain, Full or Less

   Pain is inevitable.  Pain is a part of life.  Pain - to some extent - is necessary.

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 I know our culture seeks to relinquish pain as fast as possible.  Physical pain especially.  Drug companies push their products knowing people are desperate.  They get rich from other people’s pain.  Which leads to more pain - emotionally.

 Is there an urgent push to stop the emotional pain?  Sure, drink it away is how many deal with it.  Or use others drugs.  Some find other escapes, eg, sex, gambling.

   But at some point one has to stand still and feel it.  Identify it.  Talk about it.  Grieve.  Maybe never lose the hurt entirely, but learn to accept the darkness, learn to live in spite of it.

   There are all sorts of ways we can handle this.  Positive, negative ways.  Friends, family can help.  Therapists, pastors, self-help support groups.  Sometimes even the family pet, with their unconditional love can bring so much relief.  Journaling was one of my best ways.

   As for physical pain, that to me seems harder.  I grew up with a lot of emotional pain, but through the years was able to reach out, learn ways to cope.  Emotionally I can handle things much better these days.

   I think of the verse, IICor 12: 7-10, in which Paul notes he has a thorn in his side.  God has His reasons for everything in our lives, thorns and all.  And I am a believer that He won’t give us more than we can handle.  Yes, that right there - more than we can handle - is what we do to ourselves.  The key is believing, trusting in God’s wisdom, guidance, and love, to nurture us through the pain.  Theresa M