Whispers of His Power - 30 Days of InspirationEsimerkki

Pain

As a child, I puzzled over the fact that though all Christian people spoke of pain as sent from God, they did all that in them lay to avoid it or, if it came, to get rid of it. Doctors who helped them to do so were prayed for as very special servants of God. And yet they were working against the very thing that God had sent.

It was all very puzzling, and I can remember the delight of finding the words, "An enemy hath done this" (Matt. 13:28), and feeling that they must apply to all that hurt and wounded either spirit or body. And yet, there was a mystery somewhere. And it was not explained.

I think now that it never will be explained until we stand in the light of God, but these words from Paul and Job and our Lord’s own prayer help us to understand.

All pain, all ill, is a messenger from Satan, and yet the thorn was a gift. The Spirit of God takes care to let us know that it was Satan’s hand, not the Father’s, that hurt Job. And yet that cruel hand was turned into a crucible, and the fire refined the gold. The power of darkness crucified the Lord of glory. But Love won on Calvary.