Lessons from the Journey

As I prepare for the birth of our daughter I was watching a video on the epidural procedure (which I plan to use). I'm not afraid of needles, but still it doesn't look like fun. The only good part of labor in my way of thinking is the end result, finally having our daughter in my arms. I deal with a lot of pain associated with my RA, and I've dealt with physical pain from my rape and abuse. I've also deal with emotional pain: grief when loved ones die, abuse, fear, loneliness, etc.

I'm not a fan of pain. I know the military says that it is "weakness leaving the body", but I don't seek it out. Pain of any sort is not fun. It hurts! It can be scary, and it doesn't always go away with a magic pill or a shot.

Yet, as much as I don't enjoy pain I see that it is in the painful times, the hard times, the scary times along my journey that I have had a chance to grow. I can become stronger if I allow the pain to draw my closer to the Lord. If I remember to ask, "Lord, this hurts and this is scary and this is no fun. Please be with me, please help me rely on You to get me through."

So far no pain I've experienced has killed me (though I tried to kill myself in 2002 to escape it, but God had other plans), and I have grown. I'm [hopefully] wiser now. I do know that I can get through. I have also learned that I can't do it on my own. I need a lifeline. When I'm really hurting, when it is really scary I need someone to talk to, a hand to hold and squeeze, I need that reminder that pain is temporary.

As scary and painful as what you are going through is, it is just temporary. It may be that you, like myself have a disease that affects daily life and it isn't going away, or you may have been abused in some form, or you are dealing with the pain of grief. As harsh as it all is, and it is harsh, I'm not minimizing it, it is just temporary.

If we choose Christ, if we say "yes" to all He offers we know that a reward for a faithful life is Heaven, and in Heaven there are no more tears, there is no more pain. God takes that away and it is vanquished forever!

That is the hope I hold when I'm dealing with the pain of life, when I'm having flashbacks, or I ache, or I grieve. I focus on my Savior. It is the only way I know of to recover from pain, to know that it is temporary, that with Christ's help I can overcome, for He already has and is just waiting to help, just waiting for me to ask for it.

Have you asked for HIS help? It is the best and most productive thing you can do to get out of the dark hole you may be in.