"Pain is not the fruit of pain"

I've wondered sometimes why God calls us through pain. It is, of course, a question that I cannot answer, because God has not revealed the host of His knowledge or the extent of His plan and purpose to me. I rest in His character, in what He has revealed, and what He has promised. I know that whatever pain I go through is for a purpose, for my good and for God's glory.

I know I should not be surprised when a fiery trial comes upon me. It is not something strange, but I treat it like it is. I fear pain, I hate pain, and if I could I would probably escape pain every time.

Yet, when it comes to the existence of pain, when it comes to the reason why God allows us to suffer, I think I know a part of the answer. God's intent is my gain more than my suffering. The dross is purged and purified through the fire. God means pain for something more than just pain. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, pain is not the fruit of pain. Something else springs up out of it.

Understanding. Understanding costs something. It costs the death of my selfishness. It costs me my inability to relate to others. It grows compassion in me. I know that when I have gone through terrible things, those who have helped me and encouraged me and lifted me up the most are those who have gone through terrible things as well. I know that I am better able to minister to someone who is struggling because I have struggled. I can say, "I know what you're going through. I understand", and from that standpoint I can begin to encourage and reach out with the gospel.

Patience, too. Because I have been there, I can better understand someone's frailty, and therefore I am more patient with them as they struggle over wounds old and new. The ultimate blessing for me during times where I sat helpless, willing the tears to stop falling, yet being unable to dry my eyes, it has been the patient comfort of others that eased my heartsickness. Suffering has most definitely taught me patience in more than one way. For physical pain, I have learned and continue to learn that sometimes there is nothing you can do but wait until it eases. It's the same with all pain, really. Sometimes it goes away quickly. Other times it takes days.

I have constant pain in my shoulders. It is not debilitating, but it can be frustrating. Sometimes the pain flares into something a bit nastier, and I become grumpy or useless for a day. Yet I think this pain that I have has helped me to deal more patiently with others who suffer daily pain at a greater level than my own.

Gentleness. We are so fragile. We are vessels of dust holding the breath of life in tenuous bodies. Praise be to God, He knows our frame. He never forgets, but we do. I do. I treat others roughly a lot more than I ought to. The pain that God has allowed into my life has taught me something about gentleness. Deal with others carefully; you don't know everything they are going through. God knows the thoughts and hurts of men, yet He is kind, patient, and merciful, not dealing with us according to our sins or punishing us according to our iniquities.

Ultimately, pain teaches me something more about grace, because I know that Jesus suffered the ultimate pain for me. He took my sin upon Himself so that I could be free, redeemed, sanctified and justified before the Father. He took my sin so that I could be adopted into the family of God, being able to call God "Father". He suffered pain for my sake as an expression of love, in the greatest sacrifice in the history of the world. His pain bore the most important fruit: salvation.