No Pain, No Gain?

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering,

as though something strange were happening to you.”

I Peter 4:12 (NIV)

 

Ashley is a beautiful 15 year old girl with long dark hair and the latest style of black framed glasses perched on her nose. She smiles, she laughs, she dances and she talks on the phone with her friends. She’s your typical teenager except for one very important thing: Ashley does not feel pain. Any pain.

 She was born with something called congenital insensitivity to pain. She can feel pressure, yes but pain, no. She feels badly for someone who is hurt and in pain but she cannot describe the feeling herself – because she has never felt it.

 Ashley’s parents knew something wasn’t right soon after she was born but were totally surprised by the diagnosis they were given. A professor following her case commented that while pain is a gift, it is not a gift that Ashley has been given.

 Calling pain a gift? Now, honestly, the first thought that someone might have at the idea of feeling NO pain would probably be “That would be fantastic!” Stub your toe? Not a problem! Trying to run a mile or lift weights? You could work right through without feeling pain like everyone else!

 But think again. Not feeling an appendicitis attack could lead to life-threatening consequences if you have no concept of a warning pain. And what about getting into a bathtub of extremely hot water? Imagine the burns you could receive because you were unable to feel that the water was scalding hot.

 In I Peter 4:12, Peter does not tell us that pain is a gift but he does tell us that in this world we are going to have plenty of it. He even refers to it as the “painful trial you are suffering” and cautions us not to be surprised when it occurs. Perhaps it is physical pain from a life threatening disease but it can also refer to emotional, mental and spiritual pain as well.

 Peter adds the word “trial” to remind us not to be surprised when tough situations confront us. It’s so easy to follow Jesus when there is no pain or discomfort, isn’t it. But when a trial hits? We had better be grounded in a foundation based on God’s Truth or we will find ourselves hopeless and helpless in a whirlpool of fear and anxiety and panic.

            Just because we are believers in Christ, we should not assume that we are exempt from pain. This world is not our home and we are not welcome here. We don’t have to like it or understand it. But we should always remember that God is in control and at work in our lives when the tough stuff hits.

Remember that God knows exactly what is going on. Call on His name. Get into His Word. Hold on to Him and allow Him to hold on to you. He has a plan in everything that happens, including the pain we experience every day.

 This world will not be around forever and neither will pain. We are told in Revelation 21:4 that Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes and we will never again experience death or mourning or crying or pain!

I am longing for the days of no pain and great gain – with Jesus. But until that time, I will remember that my strength for those times of pain that I will face comes from the Lord.

Father, please give me strength and courage for the days of pain ahead, that I may focus on you and eternity. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt that because you are a Christian you should not have to experience pain in this world?

 

• How does that thinking line up with I Peter 4:12?

 Apply

• As you face painful trials in your life, write each one down in your journal.

 

• Then pray “Lord, I am not surprised by this trial. Please give me strength and courage to get through it and keep my focus on you.”

 Power

• I Peter 4:12 (NIV) “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

 

• Revelation 21:4 (NIV) “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

• Romans 8:18 (NIV) “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

 

 

Places You Don’t Want to Be

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you

pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

 

My mother’s favorite childhood memory was getting up early to go with her father, my grandad, as he fished in the river near the family cabin. Her job – and she loved it – was to row the boat as he threw out his line.

Mother said Grandad always reminded her that oars had to work together, in unison, or the boat wouldn’t stay in the middle of the river in deeper water. “If you want to go in a straight line,” he would tell her, “you have to use the same amount of strength in each arm to pull the oars through the water. If your left oar is pulled back harder than your right one, you will get off course in seconds.”

 Then he would warn her “The oars always have to work together or you will find yourself in places you don’t want to be.” If she forgot to listen to his advice, they would end up either spinning in a circle or in shallow water with large jagged rocks, a bank full of branches . . . and snakes.

 And what would her father do when she got off course and didn’t follow his warning? He would gently but firmly tell her to look at her oars. “Are you pulling with the same strength in each one? No. Look at the middle of the river. That’s where you want to be. Row back to that place and start over.”

 That sounds so much like my life. If the “oars” that I use to get me through each day are from the world instead of the Word, I am going to spin out of control and get off course.  Let me explain.

 If one of my oars is faith and the other one fear, I will struggle through life because they will work against each other. The oar of faith will push forward as the oar of fear pulls backward. And the outcome will be as my grandad warned:  “You will find yourself in places you don’t want to be.”

Faith pulls me through each day and tells me “Hang in there; hold on to the Lord. It may be rough for a while but you will get through!” But fear screams “You aren’t going to make it! Give up! Quit!”

            Where are you today? Rowing in the middle of God’s plan for your life or headed for the jagged rocks, branches and snakes? I encourage you to exchange the oar of fear for one of trust. Call on the Lord to help you pull through whatever is in your path. He alone can replace fear with faith and trust to keep you from places you don’t want to be.

 

Father, please help me to stay in your Word every day. I need the strength to face life’s challenges and it can only come from you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Do you ever find yourself in a situation in which you seem to be going in circles and not making any progress?

 

• What “oars” are you using to strengthen you? Faith and trust? Or fear and panic?

 

Apply

• Journal the words “faith/trust” and “fear/panic” in two columns.

 

• During your prayer time, journal situations in your life that you are facing and the results of each one if you react with faith and trust or with fear and panic.

 

Power

• Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

 

• Mark 4:39-40 (NIV) “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

 

• Philippians 4:13 (NIV) “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

 

 

Is It Okay To Add or Subtract?

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep

the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV)

 

The title of the article caught my attention: “Eleven Secrets of Irresistible People.” I have friends I would consider to be in that category so I read on to determine if they were in possession of any of the “secrets” that made them impossible to ignore

.

The first two “secrets” stated that irresistible people treat everyone with respect and focus on them and what they have to say. No argument from me. But the third one caught me by surprise.

 

It stated that irresistible people “follow the Platinum Rule” and not the “Golden Rule” found in Matthew 7:12 when Jesus tells his listeners “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

 

The author of the article went on to explain that the Golden Rule – treating others as you want to be treated – had a “fatal flaw.”

 

His reasoning determined that not all people are motivated by the same thing and in the same way. So he came to the conclusion that we should simply treat people as THEY want to be treated and if we do that, we will have corrected the “fatal flaw” in the words of Jesus.

 

If the author is right, then anything is allowed. Anything. The alcoholic who wants you to get him a drink before he drives can do that with your blessing. The deacon who wants you to ignore him as he steals from the church treasury should not be reported.

 

The woman wanting to keep her affair secret from her family should have her wishes honored. After all, it’s how each of these individuals wants to be treated, correct?

 

But the Scripture from Deuteronomy 4:2 could not be any clearer: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

 

There is a real danger when man decides to change and adapt God’s word to suit him and to make him happy. Where do you stop?

 

For example, someone is bothered by Jesus rising from the grave so let’s change that part of the Word. And what about hell? Too tough to think about so let’s throw it out altogether.

 

When the creation does not like parts of the Creator’s Word and changes them, the outcome will be disastrous.

 

Read the Word and follow what the Lord has shown you. Period. Do not add or subtract parts that you may not like. God’s Word was written to all of us for a reason. Adding or subtracting what we may not like or agree with has eternal consequences.  

 

Father, your words are truth. May I never forget that all wisdom comes from you. And may I follow your every Word. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

·         Have you ever wondered if parts of the Bible were flawed, as the author stated? If so, what parts and why?

 

Apply

·         Journal examples of wisdom from the world and compare them with God’s Word in the Bible. Ask the Lord to make clear the passages you do not understand.

 

·         Speak with those with Biblical knowledge who have studied the Word to explain verses that are confusing to you. Pray for clarity.

 

Power

·         Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV) “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

 

·         I Corinthians 1:25 (NIV) “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

 

·         Proverbs 14:7 (NIV) “Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Handle a Mean Girl

“For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering

because he is conscious of God.”

I Peter 2:19 (NIV)

 

            “This is pretty healthy to eat, right?” the cashier asked me as I went through her checkout line last week. I nodded that it was and she replied “My husband and I have just started eating healthier and working out.”

            “Well, you always look great but good for you,” I told her but she immediately began to shake her head “no” and glanced away. “Well, not according to one of my friends when she went through my line today. She told me my face looked round and when I asked her what she meant, she told me my face was fat.”

            I couldn’t contain my reaction. “What? Are you kidding me?” She continued: “Oh, she added ‘just kidding’ right after she said that. But I knew she meant it.”

Mean girls. They are everywhere.  And they hide. They hide in a group and they hide behind smiles and “just kidding” comments, but they are mean. Sometimes they even masquerade as a friend or – perhaps even worse – a Christian friend. And if that isn’t bad enough, it often seems that they get away with being mean.

So what can we do when a mean girl verbally attacks? I can immediately tell you what the unchristian side of me says: Get even! Say something right back that is even more hurtful! Share what they said so that everyone around me knows and sides with me. Sound familiar?

And then we read I Peter 2:19 (NIV) “For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.” What in the world does that mean? Are we just supposed to meekly sit by and “take it” as we are attacked verbally by a mean girl?

First of all, “because he is conscious of God” refers to you. In other words, because you know the will of God, you have a duty to do what He says and that is to be Jesus to the mean girl. Jesus understands. Look through the New Testament at all the horrible comments hurled at Him like missiles and yet He was kind and forgiving. He is encouraging you in I Peter 2:19 to be obedient to His command.

Jesus also showed compassion. Is that tough for us sometimes? It is! My heart is hurting when I’m being attacked and it’s extremely hard for me to consider why the person feels the need to “get” me with her comments. But being compassionate for the one hurting me will help me to heal from the wounds she is trying to inflict on my heart.

            If we truly want to do the will of God, we will forgive the person who is mean. If we do not forgive and we hold a grudge against someone, it’s like drinking poison and thinking the other person will get hurt.

But, hear me on this, while you must forgive, it does not mean that you have to “have lunch” with that person.  Does that make sense? Let me explain.

            For the mean girl at school? The one who seems to truly enjoy putting you down and no matter what you do or say continues being mean? Forgive her – yes. But you are under no obligation to hang out with her or to sit with her at a ball game. Pray for guidance. It is not your job to change her heart; that belongs to the Lord. You must be obedient to His word and forgive, yes.  I guarantee you that she is watching, waiting to see how you respond to her. Be Jesus.

            And the woman at work? The one who makes continual digs at your job performance and how you dress and maybe even your family and does it with a sweet smile? Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Allow the God of the Universe to work on her heart of stone. Just remind yourself that you do not need to take your break when she takes hers so that she can continue the attack. Just be Jesus.

             Are there situations when we must talk to a principal or teacher at school or a boss at work about verbal attacks? Absolutely. But we will never win if we try to fight a mean girl by being a meaner girl. The only way to win is by being Jesus and by forgiving and allowing Him to work in the life of a mean girl.

            Father, it is so hard for me to forgive when someone is being mean – especially if it is a Christian friend. Please help me to see the person through your eyes and to forgive them. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Reflect

·         Think of a time when you were targeted by a mean girl.

·         What was the outcome of your heart? To get even or to forgive?

Apply

·         When a mean girl attacks, first look at her through the eyes of Jesus.

·         Forgive – even if you do not want to – and pray for her heart to be changed by the Lord.

Power

·         I Peter 2:19 (NIV) “For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.”

·         Psalm 37:7 (NIV) “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

·         Exodus 14:14 (NIV) “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”