Why Pain?ናሙና

Pain and You

Why must we undergo pain? Why does God allow it in the first place? What did I do to deserve this? Why? Why? Why? The answer would surprise you. God could be using pain to prepare you for greatness. How does gold become precious and valuable? When it is refined by hot, burning fire. You cannot purify gold without heating it but when it comes out of the fiery process, we receive it in its purest form. It is impossible to get pure gold without putting it in the fire. In the same way, God uses pain in our lives (fire) to make us people of value.

Pain is inevitable and cannot be shared with anyone. The person who is suffering has to bear it alone. It is an integral part of life and cannot be avoided. However, we must learn how to live with it and be victorious through it.

Sickness was no stranger to me because I spent around 70 per cent of my life in hospitals on medication. I wondered why it was all happening to me. All sorts of questions were popping up. The most painful thing was when I was judged by people saying God was angry with me and He was teaching me a lesson. They concluded I was living in sin and made many accusations. I felt condemned. But when I started to go through the Scriptures, I found a totally different outlook. I received hope and understanding that God does not allow us to go through pain to break us. On the contrary, it is to prepare us for something bigger.

A person who dreams of becoming a bodybuilder can never achieve his goal if he does not accept the pain of exercise. In the same way, God allows pain to mold and train you so you can become a useful vessel.

The potter chooses a lump of ordinary clay from the shapeless pile of clay heaped on the floor. The potter has an end product in mind, a vessel that will be useful for its final purpose. The clay cooperates with the potter and goes through the pain, knowing whatever the potter does will give it value. Similarly, we must cooperate with God. Avoiding pain does not accomplish anything; it will only make you a man or woman of compromise, and there is no place for you in the kingdom of God.

Remember, pain is not meant to destroy. Instead, it builds a Christ-like character in you, which will help you to grow in Christ’s likeness until your last breath. So, accept your pain and glorify God as you go through it. Remember, there is no gain without pain.