Monday, October 24, 2011

When Pain Comes...


Pain is not something most people like.  That is why we run from it as fast as we can.  That is also why we aren’t free.  Jesus hardly ever goes to those places where we run.  When pain comes (or when we fear that it will come), don’t run away.  Run to it, and you will find you have run into the arms of Jesus.  In other words, buck up, face it, embrace it, and know that you and Jesus can deal with it.  Then you will laugh and dance in the freedom and the reality of God’s sufficiency and the power that becomes awesome in your weakness (Steve Brown, A Scandalous Freedom).

 Blessing the Lord for all His gifts once again:
~Spending time in Jesus' company in the Gospels for my morning reading
~Several portions of days with zero back-hip-foot pain
~Sinus check-up showing no bacterial infection as a result of this cold
~Substitute ENT was exceedingly kind and gentle
~Highest lupus pain week in months
~Discouraging realization that improved coping with activities of daily life is from lots of added pain medication and not from actual healing of underlying problem
~Sacrifices of praise
~Texted prayer requests
~Waves of anxiety driving me to the Savior
~Piano keys beneath my fingers
~Peace and protection while Allen traveled for a family funeral
~Time for each of us with our respective parents
~Trying on my English major hat again for Jane Eyre movie
~Waking up to wet windows and almost 2" needed rain in the gauge
~Grieving with those who grieve at neighborhood church where pastor unexpectedly passed away over the weekend
(from the gratitude journal, #1976-1990)

25 comments:

  1. An ever so gentle hug to you, friend. I'm sorry about the pain. Not in the context of the wise quote at the beginning and the way it draws you even closer to the Savior, but just as someone who cares and knows the difference in her own body. Prayers for you and joy in the rain.

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  2. Peace to you today. Just visiting from Ann's.

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  3. Sending you hugs and prayers as you learn from your pain and embrace our Good Lord inside of it. Much love to you, dear one.

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  4. Prayers for you. Somehow I think there will be greater reward in eternity for those who held on to Him through long battles with pain than we can now imagine.

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  5. A lovely hope. Thank you. May God grant you strength for your own battles as well, friend.

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  6. Thank you for stopping by, Emily. God's peace to you, as well.

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  7. The beauty you have allowed Him to bear in your spirit as you trust Him for every bit of everyday is exquisite. What a precious picture is being painted by your decision to give Him Glory in all circumstances. His Sufficiency and Strength are so evident as you allow Him to be Everything to you. Your testimony is such a blessing, dear Christina.

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  8. It's a blessing to read this post, thank you

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  9. it sounds like you've been going through an exceptionally rough time

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  10. hi again--

    sorry about hitting 'post' by mistake (i was trying to change 'post as chughes3' to the 'post as chris', in the interest of reduced impersonality). what i meant to say was:

    it sounds as though you've been going through an exceptionally rough time! any one of intense physical pain, anxiety, and grief is a trial, and to be subject to all three at once is especially cruel. i'm torn between grieving that you're finding so much suffering amidst the blessings you give thanks for, and rejoicing that you're finding so many blessings amidst and in the suffering you describe. like Brandee, i'm praying that you'll be healed, as well as delivered from pain and anxiety. much love!

    --chris

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  11. Maybe someday I'll live up to those words, dear Anne. Thank you for your loving encouragement and prayers.

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  12. You're welcome. It is a blessing to me to know that. May you taste the goodness of our Lord today.

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  13. Thank you! Grace to you in Jesus, Casey.

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  14. Oh, sounds like you had a difficult week indeed. It's incredibly faithful to see the pain as gratitudes. You're right - whether it be emotional or physical pain, it cannot be ignored or rejected. Yet I find myself wanting to flee from the heart aches. When will I learn to simply hand it to Him? When will I learn the obedience and patience? Thank you for sharing your week and for giving me the courage to try, try again. And to be truly thankful for remaining healthy. Many blessings to you.

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  15. Read this and thought of a tv show I saw bits of the other day; Rob Dyrdek was showing video clips of people running off physical pain. A kid would fall off his bike, hop up, and take off running. A guy would fall down a hill, stand up, and "jog off" what ailed him. Interesting. Silly.

    So sorry for your pain. Hope you're feeling a little better, mid-week.

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  16. Thank you so much for your kind words. It seems we are enrolled in the same school of learning courage and trust instead of flight. Grace, peace, and courage to you in Christ today!

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  17. Hello, friend! I prayed for you this morning. Thank you for your kindness.

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  18. Thanks for the prayers. I do need them.

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  19. A lot of truth in this post. I received healing when I allowed the pain to surface instead of running as usual. Mine was emotional but I'm sure the same is true for a lot of other pains and wounds.

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  20. It probably is true of other kinds of wounds; emotional ones were foremost in my mind, too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts; it helps me to learn from others' experiences. God bless you, friend.

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  21. I'm finally catching up on friends' writings from these last weeks. Even though I've needed the silence I've been in lately, I've missed "hearing your voice" on the blog here and it's a joy to read your words today.

    "the power that becomes awesome in your weakness" ~ this is speaking to me as I'm trying to hold onto the promise of 2 Cor 12:9. It's a verse that's become too familiar and lost the meaning it should have for a woman like me who lives in weakness every day. But this idea of His power becoming "awesome" in my weakness? I'm grabbing hold of that. Thank you.

    And for you pain and discouragement along the path of illness, my deepest compassion to you, Friend. May you find His strength and comfort ever more awesome as you walk this road.

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  22. May you also experience God's awesome strength and comfort, dear one. Thank you so much for your visits and words.

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Thank you for sharing your day with me! Your presence here is a gift. *You* are a gift. Right now I am unable to reply to every comment, but please know I read and pray for each and every commenter. Grace and peace to you in Christ.