OW!

I was trying on a pair of indoor slippers touted as “Acupressure Slippers.” The surface of the slippers, in contact with my soles, was covered with firm and rounded rubber projections. While the initial sensation was pleasant, after a few moments of walking with my entire weight pressing on these, it was definitely painful. My wife also tried it and agreed. I read the instructions on the box, thinking I may be doing something wrong. There, in bold print, it clearly answered my question. “If it hurts, it’s working!” I was initially skeptical but there were nearly 20,000 online reviews with the overwhelming majority, many suffering from plantar fasciitis, agreeing with the efficacy of the slippers, all while acknowledging the initial discomfort.

Acupressure slippers are just one of many of life’s unpleasant experiences that one may be willing to accept if we know that others can attest that it was worth the discomfort. What about our spiritual lives? Pain and suffering have afflicted mankind since Adam and Eve sinned against God. Many of us have uttered the plaintive cry, “Why is this happening to me?” We may hear others share their experiences and attempt to comfort us, giving us reassurances that God is in control. Yet, why must we still endure the suffering? Why can’t God simply make it stop and disappear?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 

Hebrews 12:10-11 (NLT)

God’s ways are not our ways and thank goodness they are not! We want to be like God, snapping our fingers and instantaneously solving all of our problems. But we are not God, we are human and God created us to share in His holiness. Discipline and suffering are one of the ways He accomplishes this. He uses these experiences to teach us, to expand our minds, and to train our souls to prepare us to live a holy life, sanctified through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. 

Pain and suffering do hurt but when God is in control, it will always work!

Amen!

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Complete Blogs on WordPress

Complete Blogs Indexed by Bible Verses