The Value of Pain

The Value in Pain

I stood at the side of her bed and wondered at the determination, the resilience, the commitment that was required for a human life to be born into the world. To this point in our married lives I think I would have arrogantly considered my wife lacking in the strength department. She seemed so frail at times so emotional. Boy how that paradigm shattered in the tense moments leading up to the birth of our first born son Zion.

This was painful, horribly painful yet she was not complaining. This was humiliating and hectic, stressful, overwhelmingly so, yet she refused to give up. 

Then the moment happened that incredible moment when you hear the cry of your firstborn and as you weep for joy at the wonder of it all. Its at that moment, as she holds your child and calms its cries, as she gently whispers words of comfort with a familiar voice that you realize the beauty that comes from pain.

I learned a lot about pain that day as my bride became a mother. I learned that all pain is not bad. Sometimes pain is the path to the greatest things in life. 

Please consider a few of the benefits to some of the pain you may be going through:

First of all pain reveals our inner character. 
During times of pain, we have opportunity to learn things about ourselves we might not learn in any other way.

Second, pain reveals our humanity. 
It reveals our desperate need for divine help. It may be in time of trial, when we feel like we are hopeless, that we really learn to trust in God, not ourselves.

Thirdly, pain produces compassion.
The fruit of pain allows us to comfort and sympathize with a personal passion we would not have without our own pain. As we suffer, we may learn things we can share with others who are going through similar difficulty.

Fourthly pain produces gratitude.
At the end of a particular time of pain, you may have a deeper gratitude for simple blessings. 

And finally, pain makes victory possible.
Remember this: We not only suffer, we enjoy many blessings; we not only observe tragedy, we observe victory. Helen Keller said, "although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."

As we celebrate mothers this time of year may we all recognize the purpose and power in pain. 

I pray God’s best for each of you and that you can embrace everything that He brings, knowing that the hard, painful stuff has value too.