Awaken the Giant WithinSample

Day 3: Understanding Pain and Pleasure in a Christian Context

Tony Robbins Quote: "The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you."

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4 - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

When legendary boxer Mike Tyson was asked by a reporter if he was worried at all about his upcoming bout with Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson replied, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

Life is an absolute fight. Whether you are 18 or 88, I’m sure you can vouch for hard lessons. Let’s call them, “Punches in the mouth.”

Life promises pain, are you prepared for it?

Most are only looking for pleasure, and when they receive pain or are “punched in the mouth”, they don’t know what to do.

Scriptures not only tell us to “Glory in our sufferings,” but also to “Count it as joy when we face trials and tribulations.”

Those are both TOUGH scriptures to swallow. They suck. They hurt. But you know what - they are cheat codes to awaken the giant within you.

I don’t like pain. I don’t like losing in business. I don’t like financial failures. They suck. They hurt.

In my very first devotional, “Whispers from Psalms 23”, I wrote about a huge financial failure. I lost nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

The bond market exploded during Covid and I was stuck. There was nothing I could do except watch my account receive margin calls.

I was liquidated. It was everything I had. I was shaken to my core.

It took weeks before I could even think for a second. I knew I had put my trust in my finances rather than in the Lord.

I repented. I humbled myself. I sought the Lord of what I could learn.

I made a few other investments during that time and left them alone. A year later, those investments were more than what I had lost.

God created a miracle out of the small portion I gave to Him. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, my accounts were multiplied again.

I’m forever grateful.

The question I’d like to present to you is, “Are you prepared for pain?”

I used to only read the stories in the Bible that were about blessings, and winning until the Lord started showing me the underbelly of those stories.

Joseph was a slave before he ran the nation.
Daniel was castrated before he advised the kingdom.
David was rejected before he was anointed king.
Jesus was tortured to save the world.

There is no life without pain.

As cheesy as the quote may be it still rings true, “There is no gain without pain.”

What about you?

What is the Lord nudging you about in your life?

Are you blaming others for the pain in your life?

Are you trying to resist pain in hopes of an easy life?

Maybe you were misguided thinking the Christian way is the pain-free way.

What is your pain teaching you?

What are you learning?

The other week I did a poll on Linkedin in which I asked, “Have you learned more from pain or pleasure?”

After a week of polling, 93% of those polled responded with, “Pain.”

We love pleasure. I love pleasure.

Yet, the power of pain in your life is more enlightening than you may even know.

I’d like to pray for you right now.

Lord, I ask for you to enlighten the eyes of the reader right now. Show them what they need to know.

Help them see the areas of their life you want them to see. For your glory.

A few more thought-engaging questions:

• How can your current struggles be viewed as opportunities for spiritual growth?
• In what ways can you find joy and hope amid challenges?

Prayer: Dear God, grant me the strength to find hope and joy in my pain, and use them for my spiritual growth. Amen.

Affirmation: "Today, I embrace my pain and trials, knowing they are shaping me into a stronger, more faithful follower of Christ."