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NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Mmmm, after the third brownie for the day, I reminisced, “No Pain, No Gain.” And since I felt no pain eating and savoring each one….no gain, right? HA! If it worked that way we’d all be brownie-holics! So what about pain? Who likes it? Who intentionally inflicts themselves with pain? Most of us do whatever it takes to avoid pain. But, really, is that what we should do? Is there any gain by the avoidance of pain? Daily, our lives are presented with opportunities and situations that can help us to grow in our faith and develop our godly character.
A friend of mine who is a body builder said that she likes it when her muscles feel sore after a workout. WHY??? I had never really enjoyed that feeling after a new regimen of exercise, and couldn’t wait for my body to adjust so that I could be done hurting. My friend said, “It let’s me know what I worked on this week, and that it will pay off. I am just used to hurting somewhere all the time.” I decided to try her workout and found that my mind adjusted to that line of thinking as I painfully walked through the store or down the aisle to my pew, or anywhere else for that matter. Sitting or lifting a can of soup, (depending on what area was worked out!) brought a funny smile to my face as I felt the muscles being used to accomplish the task!
In layman’s terms, when a muscle is used beyond what it’s used to, it goes through a tearing process. The body then builds more muscle around the area to heal it and make it stronger. In order for the muscle to grow and develop it must go through this painful process. In our daily living we have a lot of opportunities to do as Paul says, and “count the various trial’s in life all joy”. Not because of the temporary pain, but because “God is faithful to work all things to the good for those that love Him,” because, “he whose hope is in the Lord will not be disappointed.”
Be encouraged today as you pursue the strengthening of your faith. Do not loose heart if you are experiencing emotional or spiritual pain, or if you know that you are about enter into something that may cause pain and discomfort. Instead of trying to just avoid it or ‘numb’ the feelings away, identify the growth that you are able to gain through this time in your life. Determine to have joy and be strengthened in the fact that in our weaknesses, which we surrender to God, Christ’s strength in us is perfected! There is GAIN through PAIN, and we can even smile as we endure the process of growing and stretching.
So go ahead, acknowledge the pain, work through it, and count it all joy! God will never let us go through anything more difficult than we can endure and grow from. He knows when He needs to ‘do the lifting for us’ and when He needs to ‘let us lift,’ with Him as our spotter. He will never leave us unattended nor will He ever forsake or forget about us. We are His treasures in earthen vessels. Be confident in this GOOD NEWS.
(c) 2008 Kelly Martinez
