Pain that Heals
My pain intensifies, and I want to quit. But the voice encourages me to keep going, pushing through my aches and fatigue. When it’s finally time to lay down the heavy weight I have been carrying, I experience a sense of relief—and a sense of accomplishment. I’ve made it through another Body Pump class!
My objective is clear: to strengthen my muscles and bones in my fight against osteoporosis, a condition that leads to weak bones at risk of falls and fractures. There is a point during each class when focusing on this goal is the only thing that keeps me from giving up. I know there is a purpose to my pain.
Osteoporosis isn’t the only disease lurking within me. Pride fights against my diagnosis, but the symptoms point to a sin sickness that at times leaves me feeling weak, hopeless, and at risk for a fall. Lately, I have found myself thinking about the weight of painful circumstances, or the trials of life, as God’s fitness class, as his way of coaching us toward endurance and strength to improve our spiritual health.
During my Body Pump classes, the instructor reminds us that correct form is crucial for desired results and injury prevention. During trials, I need to be reminded that correct theology can determine if good results will be produced. Among other things, correct theology includes accepting the diagnosis, turning away from harmful behavior, living in hopeful obedience, and trusting the goodness of God.
The Diagnosis
I have osteoporosis. It is hereditary, my mother had it, but my early lifestyle choices also contributed to my condition. The only way to improve my bone health is to agree with the diagnosis and follow the experts’ recommendation.
It is the same with my sin sickness; it is both hereditary and the result of my choices. Scripture confirms my diagnosis:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. (Rom. 5:12 ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23 ESV)
Accepting my sin nature is the first step towards trusting God’s remedy.
Turning Away from Harmful Choices
I am free to choose if I want to turn away from, or repent of, those things that make my condition worse. With my osteoporosis, I have chosen to pursue healthy lifestyle choices to strengthen my bones. A sedentary lifestyle is harmful, while the stress of weight training stimulates new bone growth.
Similarly, my spiritual health can be improved by following God’s prescription of confession, repentance, and trust.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (Jas. 5:16 ESV)
When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 NKJV)
I need to trust God, believing that the trials he allows and those things he removes through pruning are designed to stimulate new growth, making me stronger and more fruitful.
Live in Obedience Fueled by Expectant Hope
In all sickness and pain, we must choose to live obedient lives filled with expectant hope. My obedience can look like showing up at the gym and persevering through a challenging class or choosing contentment over grumbling during a challenging season. At the gym, I push through the pain because I have hope that my efforts are making a difference, even through the changes will remain unseen until my next DEXA scan. In the same way, we must hold on to hope that what the Bible says about trials is true:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
I cannot see my bones growing stronger; in fact, it takes years before visible results can be detected. I simply trust that dietary changes and challenging workouts are making a difference because Medical Journals tell me they will. Likewise, we cannot see day-to-day improvements in our spiritual health, but we can trust the Bible, which tells us:
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom 5:.3-5 ESV)
You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here. (2 Cor. 4:17 VOICE)
The Goodness of God
Even during the most challenging moments of my Body Pump classes, I never question the “goodness” of my instructor. So why would I question God’s goodness during trials? Our pain and suffering are often tools God uses to promote physical and spiritual growth. But our complete healing comes through the pain of another.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Is. 53:5 ESV)
Christ’s suffering. Our healing. Isn’t that all we really need to know about the goodness of our God?
and her husband of thirty-three years live in Gainesville, FL. They have moved a dozen times, raising three children along the way. They have added a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and two precious grandsons to the mix. When she is not packing or unpacking, Ann enjoys serving as a mentor mom for MOPS International, joining Bible studies, meeting friends for coffee, taking long walks, and watching lots of football. Ann is passionate about using lessons from her journey to help other women navigate change in their own lives.
Photograph © Or Hakim, used with permission
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