mattbraunlin
Member
Reflections On Physical Pain
I have severe bipolar disorder. It has almost destroyed me on numerous occasions. I also have bad ADHD which makes my academic life very difficult. My meds for my bipolar also throw some crap into the midst. I have had more mental health issues than I can shake a stick at.
However, I have been extremely blessed when it comes to my physical health. I have never had serious illnesses or injuries at all. Come to think of it, a nasty bout of the flu last winter was the worst physical malady I’ve had in years.
And believe me, I know that that is a more-than-fair trade. As C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘Whatever fools may say, the body can suffer twenty times worse than the mind.’
But in the past two weeks, God in his wisdom has seen fit to gift me with two severely pulled muscles, first in my neck and now, as I speak, in my back. Although absolutely nothing by so very many standards, they are not fun, and have limited my mobility significantly.
But most importantly, they have made me think.
Physical pain is the ultimate outrage. We do not deserve it. The entire history of man is rife with the Great Complaint: that good people suffer agonies beyond justification.
Yet our desire for God remains. It remains for the soldier whose leg was lost to a hand grenade. It remains for the cancer patient, enduring the humiliating agonies of radiation and chemo. It remains for the burn victim, the physically deformed, and the mother giving birth to her child.
It has remained for all of human history, during the majority of which painkillers and anaesthetics did not exist. The soldier marched to war for God and country, the woman chose to get pregnant, and they knew that when the worst came, faith would be the only thing they could cling to.
When it comes right down to it, my 21st century brothers and sisters, our agonies are not good enough reasons to turn our backs on God. All the great heroes of our faith did not have so much as an antacid tablet to relieve their heartburn, let alone miracle drugs like morphine to ease the excruciating pain of a third degree burn or a gushing sword wound.
All they had was faith.
Of course, you can tell me to go to hell. I don't blame you. I have never known physical agony. I am not worthy to preach at those who have.
But I have suffered. My mental agonies have been brutal indeed. I would not wish a hundredth of my trials upon anyone. And all I can tell you is that when all I had was faith, faith was enough.
JESUS was enough.
Whatever deadly trials you or your loved ones are going through right now, I pray for your faith. If you are already a believer, cling to Christ, who had every pain and trial heaped upon his shoulders. Who was torn to shreds by cruel whips and had nails driven through his hands and feet.
And if you are not, he is there. He is ready to be trusted by you to be what you need in the midst of your pain, and you will be astounded by the strength he will be where you are weak and weary.
Damn this freaking pulled muscle!
I have severe bipolar disorder. It has almost destroyed me on numerous occasions. I also have bad ADHD which makes my academic life very difficult. My meds for my bipolar also throw some crap into the midst. I have had more mental health issues than I can shake a stick at.
However, I have been extremely blessed when it comes to my physical health. I have never had serious illnesses or injuries at all. Come to think of it, a nasty bout of the flu last winter was the worst physical malady I’ve had in years.
And believe me, I know that that is a more-than-fair trade. As C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘Whatever fools may say, the body can suffer twenty times worse than the mind.’
But in the past two weeks, God in his wisdom has seen fit to gift me with two severely pulled muscles, first in my neck and now, as I speak, in my back. Although absolutely nothing by so very many standards, they are not fun, and have limited my mobility significantly.
But most importantly, they have made me think.
Physical pain is the ultimate outrage. We do not deserve it. The entire history of man is rife with the Great Complaint: that good people suffer agonies beyond justification.
Yet our desire for God remains. It remains for the soldier whose leg was lost to a hand grenade. It remains for the cancer patient, enduring the humiliating agonies of radiation and chemo. It remains for the burn victim, the physically deformed, and the mother giving birth to her child.
It has remained for all of human history, during the majority of which painkillers and anaesthetics did not exist. The soldier marched to war for God and country, the woman chose to get pregnant, and they knew that when the worst came, faith would be the only thing they could cling to.
When it comes right down to it, my 21st century brothers and sisters, our agonies are not good enough reasons to turn our backs on God. All the great heroes of our faith did not have so much as an antacid tablet to relieve their heartburn, let alone miracle drugs like morphine to ease the excruciating pain of a third degree burn or a gushing sword wound.
All they had was faith.
Of course, you can tell me to go to hell. I don't blame you. I have never known physical agony. I am not worthy to preach at those who have.
But I have suffered. My mental agonies have been brutal indeed. I would not wish a hundredth of my trials upon anyone. And all I can tell you is that when all I had was faith, faith was enough.
JESUS was enough.
Whatever deadly trials you or your loved ones are going through right now, I pray for your faith. If you are already a believer, cling to Christ, who had every pain and trial heaped upon his shoulders. Who was torn to shreds by cruel whips and had nails driven through his hands and feet.
And if you are not, he is there. He is ready to be trusted by you to be what you need in the midst of your pain, and you will be astounded by the strength he will be where you are weak and weary.
Damn this freaking pulled muscle!