The Healing Power of Pain

When I was much younger I discovered that I could burn the itch out of Mosquito bites in the shower by scalding the bite with super hot water. And if I gave it a prolonged burn, there was an added bonus of the welt disappearing not long after the shower ended. At first the hot water hurt but after a few seconds the water began to scratch the itch in such wonderful ways that my finger nails never could, without damaging my skin. I have since gone on to use hot shower water to scratch almost every itch that I can not reach and most that I can. It is amazing how effective it is. The hotter the water the better it scratches the itch.

As I said earlier the hot water hurts at first, but it soon becomes soothing and enjoyable. And when I reduced the temperature of the water to what previously felt hot it now felt cold. And what felt warm to me now was too hot for most people to endure.

There are many parallels in life to this. When God allows us to struggle and endure prolonged pain, if we receive it properly it becomes therapeutic. And afterwards, we emerge from the trial stronger and able to endure more than we could have previously. From this we are able to help others who are going through similar trials and give them hope beyond their moment of pain.

Receive the trials you endure with an expectation of victory and let God use the pain He allows in your life to mold you into the vessel He can use.

James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What If?

What if we lived under a sky with the heavens opened up for all to see?
What if we could see angels and demons moving in and around us as we carried out our daily lives?
What if you could see God physically watching your every move and gauging your motives for the things you do?
What if Jesus physically was within an arms reach to provide answers and guidance as we walk through this world?

WHAT IF?

Would you live your life differently than you do now?

Every day we walk under a real heaven that exists somewhere above us! It is a real physical place even though we can’t see it. We live in America and most of us have never seen nor will we see Russia, but we don’t act as if it isn’t there. We know that it exists somewhere across the ocean and we live our life accordingly.

There are physical virtual wars between angels and demons fighting for our souls that take place in and around us every day. Just as there are soldiers defending our freedom all over the world, even though we have never met or have seen them fight on our behalf. But we don’t pretend it isn’t happening.

God really does see all of what you do and why you do it… and will one day rewind your life so that you can watch it together. And when the epic tale ends He will either reward you for the things you have done in His sons name or punish you for the things you have done in your own.

And Jesus really is within reach to all who will reach out to Him. He is there with answers and guidance to everything that you will face in this world. He lovingly places our feet into the footsteps He left behind to lead and guide us home.

One day we will see all these things and more. One day we will see things as they really are. But just because we don’t see the reality of what is happening around us everyday doesn’t mean that it isn’t happening.

We wake up every day expecting there to be enough air for us to breath so that we can live another day, even though we never physically see, feel or taste it.

It is the same with Jesus, we never physically see, feel or touch Him, but He is there all the same; showing us the way until the day we are finally home.