Few people in the Bible had more pain to deal with than Job. And through it all he resolved to continue praising God. THAT, my friends, is a testimony!

I've also read (I think it was in Church History in Plain Language) that early Christians being fed to the lions in Roman colliseums were often so peaceful in their sufferings that countless spectators ended up giving their lives to Jesus as well. God redeems through pain! I take comfort that his purposes are so much higher than my understanding. ~mike

Job, Joseph, Jesus, and Stephen to name a few suffered through incredible hardships... some lost it all, some lost freedom and even more so, some lost their lives.  The pain that was attached to these individuals demonstrates the awesomeness of God's grace.  I once heard an old preacher say that pain was God's blessing to show us two things... we are still alive and that He was still alive!!!  Wow... that really made me think.  As a pastor, I talk with so many folks that go through pain and I wonder if they see God in the midst of it. 

The book of Daniel tells of three hebrew boys that were thrown into the fire because of their convictions (Daniel 3).  Nonetheless, it says that the King that ordered them into the furnace saw "four" in the furnace and the fourth person was like the "son of God."  The scripture reveals what the King saw but it never states if the three boys in the oven saw the "fourth" figure. 

Amazingly, I ask myself if in the midst of the "fiery trials" that produce pain... could it be that He is there by my side and I not know it?  Just like the two men who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus and did not know that it was the very one they grieved over (Luke 24), could it be that He is walking alongside of us and we just don't get it? 

"Adding God to it?"  One of the greatest gifts of my life is that while my parents were of different religions they emphasized with us the things they agreed on.  Like "God is ALWAYS with you." And not in the radey to punish you for every transgression sense. LOL  But in the he loves you so much he would never leave your side sense.

I never stop to think in times of pain "WHy me?" "Where are you God?"  I know why, and I KNOW he is there with me every instant.  Even when I rage and cry over the fact that my husband is dying I can feel his arms holding me tightly to him and what I wonder is "How does anyone survive this without YOU?"  Then I feel him stroke my hair and whisper to my soul that everything will be OK.

He'd do that for everyone if they let him.

Is 48:10 "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

Job 36:15 "He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression."

I have daily pain because of back problems. I walk with a walker. I also have arthritis in my knees.  But yet I have a mouth and a tongue and breathe in me, and I will praise the Lord my God, for He is good to me. 

My brother was murdered when I was about 6 years old.  Later, my mom was murdered when I was 17.  My father is the one who murdered my mom.  I was single and pregnant at 19.  Then, the father of my baby was murdered a few years after she was born.   My half sister embezzled the funeral funds from my mom's funeral.  I also believe she collected the social security provided for me and then kicked me out before I was 18.   And that's just a part of my life.    I've have a painful life -physically and emotionally. 

The Word tells us to be joyful.  I used to pray and say, "that's a joke, right God?"  It's not.  He means it.  So how in the world can I find joy in the midst of such a life?  Because I know Him.  He sent His only begotten son to die in my stead and to take away my sins.  Although I have had my share of pain, His Spirit is in me.  He leads me daily and each day I grow in knowledge and faith and here is the best part:  He has not only forgiven my sins, but he takes them away.  Takes them out of me, so that I do not sin any more.  How can that be?  Maybe at one time you used to smoke.  I did.  But I don't any more.  He has delivered me from that sin.  (Smoking is a sin?  My body is the temple of Holy Spirit.  I believe God requires us to take care of that temple and smoking, i dont' think takes very good care.  anyway...that's another matter.)  The point is, there are things I used to do that I no longer do. 

Now you can say the guy down the block used to smoke and he quit, but he doesn't have the Holy Ghost.  Men, by their own power (self-control) can eliminate some sins. This is true.  But then there are some sins that you think:  "WOW! I just can't stop doing this. I don't want to do this.  I've tried to stop. But I can't stop."  It's like it has control over you.  That's the stuff I am talking about.  God takes that stuff away too!.  Oh, not all in one day.  It's a life time work. 

As parents, we teach our children what is right and what is wrong.  When they do wrong, we discipline them.  God is our father.  He also disciplines.  So, is my pain a result of His discipline?  Maybe... maybe not.  He has opened my ears to hear.   God is good.  And best of all, God is good to me.  There's my joy!   I no longer lie.  I no longer hate.  I no longer have gile.  I no longer excess.  I no longer love pleasure more than I love God.  I no longer steal.  I no longer smoke.  I no longer gossip.  He's is changing me.  Making me to be "Christ-like".  

That's my testimony...and I'm sticking with it!

I know what you are saying about pain. I don't know if you read my blog about my 27 year old son dying Dec. 26, 2006. I really had a hard time dealing with that. He sang in a gospel group and we did everything together. He hadn't been sick, this happened so suddenly I wasn't ready for the shock, and now his wife is not coming around much and we have to beg to see our grandaughter. God gave me two scriptures. One Sunday morning while I was at church, I was turning through my Bible, and my eyes fell on Proverbs 7: 1 - 4. I had never really noticed that scripture before, now I read it every day that I can. The other was Stand still and know that I am God. Through this and the prayers of all my Christian friends have we made it.

Just reading through the various post on this blog, I realize the depths and the awesomeness of God in the midst of one's pain.  As a Pastor and a Chaplain, I walk through the corridors of hospitals where "pain" is managed, or it sit and look into the deep stare of a mom who just lost her child, or I walk up and knock on the door of a family whose dinner time is now interrupted with the news of their Dad's death in the line of duty, or at a peaceful bedside as an elderly woman smiles and closes her eyes for the last time.   Pain takes on an incredible "look and feel" of its own... especially when we realize that God's love for us can be found interwined in painful moments!  My goodness, this is so easy to "theologically reason" but so difficult to grasp when it actually hits home. 

Your posts are moving and yet accentuate the reality of the actual title in this blog, " God and Pain"...  thanks for you insigts.  I look forward to reading more...

Can you imagine having to deal with pain without God?  I often wonder how people can possibly do it?  How do they not lose it completely without the source of God's great and wonderful peace?  I am so sorry for your loss.  When I lost my Father when I was 21, I went up to the front of the Church for an altar call and a man I had never seen before came and prayed with me.  He took one look at me and said, "Jesus takes the place of the ones we lose".  That started me on the road to healing.  God really does fill the emptiness and His strength becomes strong through our weaknesses and losses.  It is difficult to let go, but when we manage to do so we gain the strength and faith that God has for us.

Blessings in Christ Jesus

You know, I guess once again I take a different view than most... I can only answer a couple of your questions though, because I have been very blessed and have not had to deal with a great deal of pain, or major loss...I have dealt with lots of Critical changes though...

Alot of entries in this Blog have referred to God being with them...I would wonder if this could be stated a bit differently... Am I with God?  God is unchanging in my estimation and he never moves from his path...It is eternal and straight...  However, we as Christians sometimes stray from his path while he continues straight.  I think these are the moments when people who have to deal with pain, loss and critical change suffer the most. Becasue they are not as close as they could have been or maybe becasue of the pain, their frame of mind has been altered so that they don't feel the peace and security God can offer them... Comparatively that person may be closer to God than other people, but maybe they could do better or be more sensitive to the whisper of the Holy Spirit telling them to focus less on the pain and more on the glorification of God?  I would like to think that if we are/were truly walking next to God -- Immersed in his Will -- we could literally walk through fire and endure anything that was thrown at us with complete peace and serenity. But who knows maybe I am wrong... 

Well the first question was how do you deal with Pain? Some of us get distant, quiet. our moods change. life does happen and we are human even as we sit and know that we have God our behaver is different. some cry,  get angry, need time alone or away,  does this sound familiar.well it should we all need that time to grieve. I have to ask the question is this all done with God? You see thats where sometimes we can loose focus.you see God never wastes a hurt. if you share your pain with God not only will He take your pain, He will heal your wounds. I really dont like hearing people say God is teaching you something, i'd rather hear its ok to be human, and mourning a lost  is normal, but dont lose touch with God! I like what pastor Wilson said God has seen him through some painful moments, key word God seen him through. It was done together, God and Wilson. Is it ok to be angry with God? yes do you get angry at your kids? Wife? Parents? and you still love them, there have been alot of nice blogs on this subject and we all can say just give it to God and quote scripture, or even question our walk with God. the truth is we all deal with pain differently, and thank God, We Christians are there to love and comfort those in need, and I hope were not like Jobs freinds that question Jobs relationship with God!

Marc Bartholomew, Sweating Gods Juice!

here is my pain i had lost my mother and i was terribly sick the doctors said i was in the last stages of copd and was dying on top of that i had a 3 cm kidney stone. now let me explain something i have a bone condition called OI it means soft bones my bones break like egg shells and i was born with this from the time i was born untill now i have had over 600 broken bones so i really know about pain. well like i said the doctors told me i was dying i was so sick i didnt want to be around any one at all i just laid in my bed and prayed day and night and then i started reading the bible i have always studied the bible but this time its all had new meaning for me. with in a few months i was better by the end of the year my whole faith had changed and once that happend i was well the doctors were amazed i still have Copd (thats a lung condition) but im no longer in stage 3 the doctor told me there was no cure for it and what happend to me was impossible. so i have accepted that every thing happens for a reason if i had not of been so close to death i never would have changed my faith. i always believed what i was taught in church and never once questioned it. i never took the time to find out for my self and being bed bound for a year gave me plenty of time.

i will keep you in my prayers

The above post from Unitedfaith just make me realize how trivial some of our complains are.  Thank you for showing us that it is possible to stand firm even when the world seems to be against us.  Thank you again and may God bless you.

Lourdes