Our Pain Reliever

Rise and Shine for Jesus!

By Pam Iannello (my late mother)

Rev. 21:4-5 (KJV)
   And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

If you sit down and really think about it, pain is a difficult thing to describe!   Oftentimes when our children are sick and tell us "it hurts", we ask them what their pain feels like.  “It feels like somebody is roller skating on the inside of my tummy and keeps falling down.” The words don't usually come easily as they try first one adjective and then the other to convey to us the discomfort they are experiencing.  Doctors could probably share with us some pretty interesting descriptions they've received of the pain described to them by their patients.  Can men and women really convey their personal pain? Can a husband really understand the emotional hurts he occasionally brings upon his wife? Can a wife come to realize the pain she causes her husband when she insults him? Can parents really understand the pain that divorce inflicts upon their children? The list of pain victims goes on…

Inflammation produces pain; wounds, bruises, and incisions give pain.  Pressure, spasms, and separation of parts cause pain.  Pain is uneasiness of mind; anxiety; disquietude; torture; concern for the future; sorrow for the past.  Labor and exercise pains our limbs. Grief pains our heart... We suffer pain when we fear or expect evil; we feel pain at the loss of friends or property. Penalties and punishments prompt pain.  Yes, pain comes in all shapes and sizes and all manner of experience and it feels differently to each one of us.  It is all absorbing and clings cruelly. Who then can know our pain??  Only the One who can make all things new…

2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our opening verse states that God shall wipe away all their tears...Who are the "they" the Bible is referencing? Those who have been made new in Christ!  These are the people who have the promise of their pain being taken away forever.  Would that be YOU, dear lady?  Persons who are not born-again are facing far greater pain than what they have experienced in this life. Their pain will only be worse unless they understand that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ affords them eternal pain relief. Unfortunately, many of us don’t respond properly to God’s Word until we experience pain. Hence, the great purpose of pain is that it might be necessary to get our attention! And sometimes God uses pain as a chisel to sculpt our lives, even though we aren’t living in sin. The question is whether or not you are alert to God for the truth's sake, or do you turn to Him only when you are hurting and seeking pain relief?  

Matthew 16:25 (KJV) 

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Sometimes pain tests our commitment. The possibility of losing their life was very real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Think about it, dear lady – how would you live differently if you knew exactly how and when you were going to die? How would your commitment to Christ be altered? Real discipleship implies real commitment; pledging our whole existence to God’s service. Those who try to save their physical life from death, pain, or discomfort could risk losing eternal life and Christians could risk losing eternal rewards.  No matter who we are, if we shield ourselves from pain, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our life turns inward, and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our life to the Lord, however, we discover the real purpose of living as our pain challenges our love and respect for God’s will…

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Pain is often necessary for growth. When we face hardship and discouragement, it is easy to lose sight of God’s holy purposes and feel isolated and alone. But we’re not alone; there is help! Many believers have already made it through life, enduring far more difficult circumstances than you and I will ever experience. Suffering is training ground for Christian maturity. Pain can develop our patience and make our final victory sweet.

Matthew 8:16-17 (KJV)

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: [17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Through pain we experience God’s power and grace. Matthew repeatedly shows Jesus’ kingly nature… Through a single touch, Jesus healed; when He spoke a single word, evil spirits fled His presence. Jesus has authority over all evil powers and all earthly disease. He also has power and authority to conquer sin. And in the future when God removes all sin, there will be no more unpleasant side effects! What a lesson for us – we see what Jesus did when a wide range of hurting people were brought to Him. If you’re in bad shape, go to Jesus for some power and grace. It’s quite obvious that He can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of our lives!

In closing, however your pain may feel to you right now, if you know Christ as your Savior, the Bible says it will be no more!  It is only for a season; what a blessed thought! I remember from my childbirth experiences that if I concentrated on my labor pain, it seemed as if it increased. But if I changed my focus, it was bearable. Likewise, by focusing upon the Lord and His promises and taking our pain to the One who makes all things new, we can lessen the unpleasantness of our circumstances and the continual distraction it brings. The more life hurts, the more your focus on the Lord should increase; as pain clings to you, cling tighter to the Cross...

Romans 8:18 (KJV)

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Lean heavenward and relieve your pain...soon all things shall be new!

God Bless,

Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2006 Pamela A. Iannello