What causes pain? - Pain - TouchPoints

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.

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!”

Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s commandments are meant to keep you from spiritual, emotional, and physical pain. Disobedience to God causes pain because it is sin and sin always has painful consequences.

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, but just the opposite happens. Falling prey to Satan’s attacks and lies or giving in to his temptations will always cause you pain.

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 12:7I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Satan’s activity causes pain because we live in a fallen world. Even innocent people become victims of the sickness and tragedy that fall upon those who are good and those who are evil.

Genesis 30:1-2When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”

Sometimes you feel pain when it seems God does not want to grant you your deepest desires, even if your motives are good.

Exodus 1:11So 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.

Luke 13:1-3About 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!”

Others’ irresponsibility, sin, or oppression can cause you pain. Often their mistakes and choices can bring about negative circumstances that affect you.

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.

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.”

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.

God’s judgment of sin can cause pain. Although God will always forgive you if you ask, your sinful actions have consequences that you 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.

Relationships that sour can be painful.

1 Samuel 23:12Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord replied, “Yes, they will betray you.”

Matthew 26:23He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.”

Betrayal is painful.

James 3:5-6In the same way, the 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 can set your whole life on fire.

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.

Hurtful words are painful. Often a wounded heart takes longer to heal than a wounded body.

Job 1:18-20While 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.

1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

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 worsen your pain.

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.

Psalm 15:4Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

Keeping a promise 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.

Even obedience can be painful sometimes.