Life involves pain. No matter how much faith you have, or how deep your love for and trust in God, you will experience pain. Some pain is minor and easily forgotten. But there is other pain that is so deep that you carry the ache of it with you in your heart. During the busy events of the day it isn’t always at the forefront of your mind, but as soon as there is a moment of quiet, the ache returns. Seasons of deep pain bring us to a crossroads in this life of faith. Will we turn from Christ and seek solace elsewhere, or will we throw ourselves upon Him in greater dependency, knowing that our only hope is in Him?
I am in one of those seasons of pain. Life has taken an unexpectedly difficult turn and may yet become more difficult before it gets better. I carry the pain of it with me and tears are a frequent occurrence. I am anxious for a change in circumstances that will alleviate this pain.
But in the midst of this pain, does God have a work He desires to do in me? Absolutely. And God has mercifully allowed me to see some of the beautiful fruit of it. I would choose fruit without pain. But God knows that the sweetest and most enduring fruit is that which is born through tribulation. His wisdom is beyond my understanding.
But as for me, I have made my choice.
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:1-8
I pray that God gives you the strength to endure this season of pain. Romans 3-5:
Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
That post was so very good,Christians some of them think we should not suffer,and I totally disagree.Look how Jesus suffered for us,oh yea we gonna do some suffering.I enjoyed your post so very much,yes continue trusting & Praising God.I am disabled with arthritis & I have good & bad days but I am not giving up on my God never.
Pttyann, it seems as you are no stranger to pain. My prayers for you….
quondamclericJanuary 8, 2009 / 2:34 am
Eirene, It seems that none of us are immune to pain.
I always thought I knew what pain was until a real trauma hit me a couple of years ago. Now I understand better.
The question in your first paragraph is a deep one. The solace that is found elsewhere is so hollow and fleeting and we are brought back to hope again.
May you find comfort as you hold on to Psalm 121.
Brian
My pledge to you sweet, strong, faithful fellow sojourner…
Every day I will pray for you. Asking Our Beloved Heavenly Father to hold you close during this season of process in pain. In the making of your choice Eirene, you honor Him. Oh how all of heaven is enraptured by your glorious choice of faith amidst the crushing heavyness of your pain. You are so right – you are NOT alone in your work – “the work of pain.”
“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord be my helper!
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness…” Psalm 30:10, 11
Lifting you up in earnest prayer my blog friend – Melody
He is my Delight 
Eirene,
I pray that God gives you the strength to endure this season of pain. Romans 3-5:
Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
In His Name,
Justin
Thank you Justin
That post was so very good,Christians some of them think we should not suffer,and I totally disagree.Look how Jesus suffered for us,oh yea we gonna do some suffering.I enjoyed your post so very much,yes continue trusting & Praising God.I am disabled with arthritis & I have good & bad days but I am not giving up on my God never.
Pttyann, it seems as you are no stranger to pain. My prayers for you….
Eirene, It seems that none of us are immune to pain.
I always thought I knew what pain was until a real trauma hit me a couple of years ago. Now I understand better.
The question in your first paragraph is a deep one. The solace that is found elsewhere is so hollow and fleeting and we are brought back to hope again.
May you find comfort as you hold on to Psalm 121.
Brian
My pledge to you sweet, strong, faithful fellow sojourner…
Every day I will pray for you. Asking Our Beloved Heavenly Father to hold you close during this season of process in pain. In the making of your choice Eirene, you honor Him. Oh how all of heaven is enraptured by your glorious choice of faith amidst the crushing heavyness of your pain. You are so right – you are NOT alone in your work – “the work of pain.”
“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord be my helper!
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness…” Psalm 30:10, 11
Lifting you up in earnest prayer my blog friend – Melody