Question 1

What causes pain?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:16-19Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. . . .” And to the man he said, “. . . All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from [the ground]. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”Until this moment of announced consequences for sin, there is no evidence that pain was part of human experience. The term “sharpen,” however, might hint that pain was in God’s original design. After Adam and Eve sinned, pain became a significantly greater part of their life experience, from the pain of bringing life into the world to the pain of living life in the world. Their fall into sin added complications to every dimension of their human experience and every part of the created order.Psalm 32:3-4When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.James 4:9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.Pain serves as a warning mechanism to tell us something is wrong. When we fail to acknowledge our role in wrongdoing, guilt and shame can set in motion escalating pain. Our pain is not always caused by wrongdoing, but our wrongdoing always causes pain, sooner or later.Lamentations 1:12Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine, which the Lord brought on me when he erupted in fierce anger.Jeremiah’s deep grief over the judgment on Judah led him to feel like he was suffering like no other. We can identify with his feelings in those moments when our pain feels uniquely hard. This is particularly true when we experience pain as a result of the actions of others. The consequences of sin often cause suffering for those who were not the direct perpetrators.Genesis 4:8One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.Amos 1:6This is what the Lord says: “The people of Gaza have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished!”Once death entered the created order because of Adam and Eve’s sin, it was only a matter of time before a human caused pain to another to the point of death. God’s gracious warning to Cain (Genesis 4:6-7) was meant to keep him from spiritual, emotional, and physical pain. God’s commands to us have the same purpose. Breaking these commands (or sinning) is choosing to step out of the protection of God’s law. Sin always has painful consequences, not only for those who sin, but also for everyone around them.Job 2:6-7“All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.Luke 13:16“This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”2 Corinthians 12:7So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me.1 Peter 5:8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.Satan’s activity causes pain because his purpose is to get you to sin. His goal is to trick you into thinking that sin will relieve your pain or allow you to avoid pain, but just the opposite happens. Falling prey to Satan’s attacks and lies or giving in to his temptations will always cause pain for you and everyone around you.Exodus 1:10-11So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king.Exodus 21:28-29“If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will not be held liable. But suppose the ox had a reputation for goring, and the owner had been informed but failed to keep it under control. If the ox then kills someone, it must be stoned, and the owner must also be put to death.”Proverbs 10:26Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.Luke 13:1-5About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”The sin, irresponsibility, or oppression of others can cause us pain. Often their mistakes and choices bring about negative circumstances that affect us but are not our fault. A significant amount of pain in this life if not brought on by our own actions, though we can also be guilty of causing significant pain to others.Exodus 9:11Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians.Numbers 12:10-11As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, there stood Miriam, her skin as white as snow from leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened to her, he cried out to Moses, “Oh, my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed.”2 Chronicles 26:19-20Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the Lord’s Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the Lord had struck him.Psalm 38:3-5Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me—it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins.Acts 12:23Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.Acts 13:11“Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.God’s judgment of sin can cause pain. Although God will always forgive us if you ask, our sinful actions can have lasting consequences that we must endure. These consequences are usually difficult and painful.Ecclesiastes 8:9I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other.The same relational mechanisms and human needs that allow us to do wonderful things for each other can also be the means for causing great harm to one another. Relationships that sour can be painful.1 Samuel 23:12-13Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord replied, “Yes, they will betray you.”Psalm 55:12-14, 20It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. . . . As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises.Matthew 26:23-24He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.”John 6:64-71At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.Betrayal is a painful reminder that the same vulnerability that initiates and strengthens friendships also leaves us open for deep injury.Psalm 64:3-4They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly.Proverbs 12:18-19Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.Proverbs 18:8Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.Proverbs 25:18Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.James 3:5-6The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.Hurtful words are painful. Often a wounded heart takes longer to heal than a wounded body. Unfortunately, when a wounded heart does not heal properly, it can itself turn to hurt others.Job 1:14-22While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” Job stood up and tore his robe in grief.The loss of someone or something that you love is always painful. We often don’t realize the depth of our healthy (or unhealthy) connection with others until we experience their loss.Proverbs 25:20Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.Ignoring another’s pain or responding to other’s pain inappropriately causes more pain.Lamentations 2:11I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken. My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people. Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets.1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.Jeremiah internalized the pain of his demoralized, defeated, and destroyed nation. The healthy body of Christ, said Paul, is affected throughout when any member suffers. The suffering of others brings us pain.Ecclesiastes 2:20, 22-23So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. . . . So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.Seeking satisfaction from any source other than God causes pain. Only the peace that comes from walking with God can soothe your pain. Anything else will eventually deepen it.Hebrews 12:11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.Discipline can be painful. In this sense, pain can be beneficial. It can stop us from continuing to do something harmful and point us in the direction of good and beneficial actions.Luke 11:45“Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”Convicting truth can be painful. When our sins are being exposed, we need to listen and learn from the pain. Taking offense at the pain will only cover the underlying sin that needs to be addressed.1 Samuel 20:34Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of the festival, for he was crushed by his father’s shameful behavior toward David.Proverbs 17:21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.Ungodly relatives can cause us pain, even our parents and children. Disappointment runs especially deep when people we expect to be our mentors or leaders violate the trust we place in them.Psalm 15:4Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.Keeping promises and doing the right thing can be painful.Hosea 1:2, 3:1When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.” . . . Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.”Hebrews 5:8Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.Sometimes even obedience can be painful. Suffering can be an effective teacher.

Question 2

Is God absent in my times of pain and trouble?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 37:28; 39:3So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. . . . the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.2 Corinthians 4:9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.1 Peter 5:10After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.God will never desert those who follow him. He doesn’t take a day off and forget about you. When you accidentally cut yourself, you become completely focused on how bad it is and on how to stop the bleeding. When you feel God has abandoned you, it is because you have become so focused on easing the pain that you have neglected God, forgetting that he has promised to help you and be with you. To abandon you God would have to stop loving you, and he cannot do that, for he is love.

Question 3

How does God help me deal with my pain?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 31:7I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.Psalm 55:22Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.Psalm 62:8O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.It is easier to deal with pain when someone is there, helping you through it, and who better to help than God? These verses do not say that God will keep you from experiencing pain, but that he will keep you from being defeated by it if you go to him for help and healing. Place your pain on his shoulders so he can help you bear it.Psalm 10:17Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.Psalm 119:76Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.Matthew 5:4“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”2 Corinthians 1:3-4All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.God listens, loves, blesses, and comforts when we are in pain. While others do this inconsistently, God is unfailing.Psalm 69:29I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.Go first to the One who is all-powerful and can help you most with your hurt and pain. Remember his presence and promises are larger than this life. Not only can God heal your pain on earth, but his power of salvation will free you from all pain in eternity.Psalm 25:18Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.It is painful to be controlled by sinful habit or addiction. Although pain is a bi-product of the fall of creation into sin, personal sin isn’t always the reason for pain. But as we respond to pain before God, we should always consider the possibility that we are experiencing consequences from sin. Repentance is part of a healthy response to pain. God’s forgiveness frees you from slavery to sin and gives you the power to overcome it.Psalm 41:3The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.Psalm 147:3He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.God can heal any pain, be it a broken body or a broken heart. Because God works in the framework of time, the causes of pain are rarely resolved instantly. As you wait for God’s healing, whether in this life or in your future in heaven, believe that God can and will someday take all the pain away.Psalm 34:18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.Isaiah 63:9In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.Romans 8:26-27The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.Hebrews 2:18Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.God feels our pain. Jesus’ willingness to live among us as a human being assures us that he was exposed to pain in the ways we are. He knows what we are going through and is therefore the best one to help us.Deuteronomy 1:21“‘Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’”Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.When we feel discouraged, it is easy to turn inward and become paralyzed by our feelings and pain. It takes great effort, but we should refocus our attention on God. Every day he opens doors of opportunity that can bring purpose and meaning to us: helping someone in need, giving time to a good cause, writing a note of encouragement. When we lift our eyes from our pain-limited perspective to an infinitely larger heavenly view, you will see a door that God has opened. As we walk through it with courage, on the other side we will find encouragement.2 Corinthians 7:6God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.God’s encourages us through his promises of comfort, help, and eventual freedom from pain. But often his help comes through the present help of other people.Psalm 69:16Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.Lamentations 3:32Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.God’s character of unfailing love and plentiful mercy is like medicine for your pain. He may not answer the “why?” of your pain, but if you trust him, he will take you through it and bring good out of it.

Question 4

What will help to heal my pain?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 25:17-18My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.Psalm 130:1From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.Psalm 143:7-8Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.Mark 14:34-36He [Jesus] told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”Acknowledge your pain honestly to God in prayer. Even Jesus knew what it was like to long for relief in the middle of painful events. We can tell God our deepest desires while at the same time expressing our confidence that he ultimately knows best. This is how you begin the process of healing.Genesis 50:1-13Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.2 Samuel 18:33The king [David] was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.Mark 16:10She [Mary Magdalene] went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.Acts 20:37They all cried as they embraced and kissed him [Paul] good-bye.1 Thessalonians 4:13Now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.Express your pain and don’t try to keep it in. Grief is a natural and necessary process in responding to deep loss and pain. Expression of feelings can bring healing and relief.1 Samuel 5:6-7Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors. When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.”2 Samuel 13:12“No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel.”Psalm 139:23-24Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.John 9:2-3“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”Determine the source of your pain. It may be a consequence of your own sin, or it may be someone else who has hurt you. As you seek God’s strength, healing, and comfort in prayer and talk with others (family, close friends, trained counselors), the source of your pain will become clear. Only then can you develop a good plan for dealing with it.Psalm 19:8The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.Psalm 119:28, 50, 52, 92I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. . . . Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. . . . I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me. . . . If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.Immerse yourself in God’s Word and find encouragement, revival, comfort, joy, and insight. Time spent studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture will not only help you respond to the immediate crisis; it will also prepare, strengthen, and equip you for further challenges.Romans 8:19-25We believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)2 Peter 3:11-14Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.Don’t give up hope or give in to the kind of thinking that convinces you God doesn’t care. If you believe God doesn’t care, you push away the One who can help you the most. Be bold to declare God’s sovereignty even in the face of apparent overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The big picture is an eternal one, not an limited earthly one.1 Peter 4:1-2So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.Develop a godly perspective towards pain. This helps you focus less on the pain itself (which can cause bitterness and discouragement) and more on how this pain can help you develop stronger character and greater sensitivity to others who may be hurting. Ask God to help you see what he is doing and can do in and through your pain, rather than simply asking for the pain to be removed.1 Samuel 3:19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.Psalm 37:30-31The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.Proverbs 10:20The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Proverbs 27:9The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.Romans 15:14I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them.1 Corinthians 12:8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.Colossians 3:16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.Seek help from godly counselors. Sometimes it is enough to get advice from trusted friends and family. At other times it is necessary to talk with a trained counselor who can help you pinpoint your pain and provide effective ways, in accordance with God’s Word, to deal with it. Take special note of those in your life who demonstrate over time that God has given them a unique gift of wise, godly counsel.Psalm 30:11-12You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.Lamentations 3:32-33Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.Revelation 21:1-4Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. . . . I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”Recognize that pain will not go on forever. Make it a practice to acknowledge to yourself and others that “this too shall pass.” In heaven, there will be no more pain.Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”Mark 11:25“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”Luke 17:3-4“So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”Colossians 3:13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Forgiving those who have sinned against us does wonders for removing the pain of hurt, anger, and bitterness in our hearts. When we fail to forgive others, it prolongs our pain without accomplishing anything worthwhile.Proverbs 20:22Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.Luke 6:28“Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.Bless those who cause you pain. Retaliation, revenge, and unforgiveness only compound your pain and leave you in bondage to past hurts.1 Thessalonians 3:7-8So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.Be encouraged by watching others in pain remain strong in their faith to the Lord. Pain, like worry, and be significantly alleviated by intentionally looking for evidence of God at work elsewhere (see Matthew 6:32-33).2 Corinthians 2:5I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.Philippians 2:4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.Hebrews 4:15-16This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.Realize others may be hurting, too. Be sensitive to them and their pain, taking the focus off of yourself. Let deep compassion for others be one of the bi-products of your pain, imitating what Jesus himself did.

Question 5

How is pain good for me? What can I learn from it?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 51:17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.Lamentations 1:20Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs, for I have rebelled against you.Joel 2:13“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.2 Corinthians 7:8-11I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. . . . For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation.James 4:9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.Pain can be redemptive. It may be an effective tool that God uses to soften our stubborn heart long enough to get our attention. Your broken heart then can lead you to God through the recognition, confession and repentance of sin.John 11:14-15So he [Jesus] told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”2 Corinthians 12:8-10Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Pain can reveal God’s power. Paul, Lazarus’ sisters, and Jesus’ disciples all were taken through the lessons of suffering. Pain is sometimes a symptom of a weakness in your life, which might be no fault of your own. But God’s power works best through our weakness. Let God work through your weakness so that your pain can showcase his power.Matthew 11:28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 15:21-28Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” . . . she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” . . . “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.Romans 8:26The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.Hebrews 4:15-16This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.1 Peter 4:19If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.Pain can bring us closer to God when we turn to him in simple, shameless, persistence with our hurt.Romans 5:3-4We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.James 1:2-4When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.Pain can strengthen our character by testing our faith in God and our ability to endure faithfully through troublesome situations. God doesn’t allow pain, challenges, and trials into our lives to cause us to fail but to bring about significant growth.Job 16:1-3Job spoke again: “I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking?”Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.2 Corinthians 1:4, 6He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. . . . Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.Pain equips us to comfort others. During painful occasions take note of those who represent God in comforting you and those who persist in leaning on their own wisdom. Remembering how God comforted you in the midst of your pain will help you extend the same care to others.Hebrews 12:11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.Painful discipline can help us make right choices in the future. Ask God to help you see what he might teach you in even the most trying situations.Job 6:10“At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.”Pain can test and prove your commitment to God. Trust doesn’t mean much when there are no challenges or difficulties in which to exercise it.Romans 8:18-19What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.1 Corinthians 15:54-57Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Corinthians 4:17Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!1 Thessalonians 4:14Since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.Revelation 7:15-17That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.Revelation 21:4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.Pain sparks the anticipation of the return of Jesus and our eternal life with him. The healthiest worldview includes an eternal destination.

Question 6

If I am in debilitating pain, what can give me hope?

Accepted Answer

1 Corinthians 15:51-53Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.Revelation 21:4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”You will one day be like the risen Christ. You will not be equal to him in power and authority, but you will be like him in character and perfection, for there will be no sin in those of us God welcomes into his Kingdom. You will never again be in pain or experience sorrow, and evil will be gone forever. In the meantime, break down your response to pain to the shortest timeframe you can handle—one minute, one hour, one day at a time. Ask God to show you his presence and give you endurance for that particular moment.Luke 15:14-19“About the time his [prodigal son’s] money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’”Pain often gets kids to run back to their parents. Could God send pain in order to get us to run back to him? That’s one of the points Jesus is making in his parable of the lost son. Painful circumstances may be the only thing that can break us out of a cycle of self-destructive behavior. Pain teaches us that there is something that needs to be fixed, to be paid attention to, to be healed.