Good Pain; Bad Pain
There are two classifications of pain; good and bad.
Some people may be confused by the oxymoron “good
pain”, but there really is such a thing. When we work
out our muscles, for example, they become sore as they
rebuild tissue stronger. Healthy exercise can not
only cause some pain and discomfort while in the act,
but also for a day or two after. This pain is a
“good” pain, because the body is responding to a
workout that is telling it to get stronger.
Bad pain, however, is just that; bad. Bad pain would
be a broken leg or a cut finger or a ruptured spleen.
This is pain that usually results from trauma,
infection, disease, etc. In many cases “bad” pain is
directly related to a bad choice. Knowing the
difference between good pain and bad is critical to
health and healing.
“We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed
in our body.” 2 Cor 4:10 (NIV)
St. Paul reminds us that as long as we live in these
bodies on earth and while we still deal with sin, we
will constantly have to deal with pain, and will
constantly be reminded of the pain that Christ endured
on our behalf. Some Christians misunderstand
scripture and feel that as long as their life is pain
free that they must be pleasing God. These Christians
will atrophy in faith in the same way that muscles
atrophy for those who do not exercise. God uses times
of pain and discomfort in our lives to allow His light
to shine in us, and constantly remind us of the pain
that Jesus endured for us. “Good” pain for the
Christian will lead to growth and better endurance.
When facing “good” pain, the Christian must fight
through the pain in order to gain or grow.
“Bad” pain for the Christian would be when bad choices
are made that are direct contradictions to God’s Word
and God’s plan. Anything that does harm to the body
of Christ (believers) is “bad” pain. The Christians
response to “bad” pain should be no different than
physical “bad” pain. Get off it! Stop!
Pain that we suffer reminds us that we are sinful and
in need of a savior. It reminds us of our condition
of sin that we live with every day. It also reminds
us of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and
gives us hope and courage to live for Him, knowing the
pain he endured for us. And ultimately, it reminds us
of how much he loves us, that even though we may
experience pain in this lifetime, he has freely given
an eternity of painlessness to all believers.
William Hiskey
DCE, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bowling Green, KY
Updated: 08/12/03
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