What do you do when you’re in pain – any kind of pain, emotional or physical?
Here’s a list of things that come to mind:
- Pray every time you feel pain
- Contact friends and family and ask them to pray
- Contact someone else to see how they’re doing, focus on other’s needs
- Dig into Scripture and quote out loud the verses the help you stay encouraged and in faith
- Distract: get busy with whatever, watch a movie or show you like, check out social media, take a trip somewhere, doodle
- Become anxious, fret
- Journal your thoughts and prayers
- Comfort yourself – eating, Starbucks, shopping, medicating, sleeping, curling up on the couch in a blanket, listening to music
- Cry
- Shut down – stare at the wall, say nothing, do nothing
All of these are possible responses to the discomfort of pain. Any of them can become obsessive. Some are helpful, others are not as helpful especially if they become excessive.
Staying connected to God when you’re in pain is not always easy.
You may be mad at him for allowing you to be in pain. That’s OK, He can handle it. The lengthy discussions Job had with God were at times powered by the anger he felt about God allowing this kind of pain in his life. He was honest with God in his pain.
You may also be full of anxiety because it’s just hard to bear and you don’t see an end in sight. Fear of the future can be overwhelming and sad. Fear of losing, fear of being overtaken by the pain, fear of being alone in our pain, are things many of us sometimes feel. These feelings are normal if they don’t control us.
Here are some verses of Scripture to consider, written by David, a man like us who in the midst of his sufferings, stayed connected to God. When we practice these things we activate the relational part of our beings.
“God is our REFUGE and STRENGTH, an EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. Therefore, we will not fear…”. Psalm 46:1, 2(a) NIV
“He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46: 10, 11 NIV
God is ever-present, meaning always present, in times of trouble as well as in the wonderful times. When we’re in pain and we’re thinking “Where are you God?” the answer is, “RIGHT HERE”.
When we’re tempted to do a million other things, the first thing that will put us in touch with Him is to “Be still and know that he is God.” Take several deep breaths, close your eyes, get really still and open your mind and heart to Him. He is there, always there.
What’s next? Shift your focus – look up! Give thanks and praise to God! Consider these verses:
“You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into His presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name.” Psalm 100:4 TPT
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 ESV
Whatever you focus on will be magnified in your eyes! If it’s troubles, sorrows, pains, they will become magnified. If you shift your focus to God and begin to give thanks and praise to Him, then you will enter into his presence – thanks and praise are like the passwords into His presence!
Once you’re connected to His presence, you can have communion – shared thoughts, feelings and conversations with God. When you are connected with the God of all the universe – all powerful, all knowing, ever-present – you have access to ALL the love, joy and peace that you need to comfort you in your pain. When He is with you in your pain, you become a recipient of His divine comfort and strength.
So, remember these words I’m sharing with you today as someone who shares your experience of pain – there is hope for you! These practices activate the relational part of our beings. Remember to:
- Be still and know that He is God
- Shift your focus – look up!
- Give thanks to God, count your blessings, praise Him
- Receive the comfort and strength His presence provides
- Communicate with Him about everything
- Remember you are NEVER alone
With love and prayers,
Terri
- Read more about the relational circuits in our brains, how to activate them and recover from negative emotions: https://shop.lifemodelworks.org/collections/on-sale/products/the-joy-switch
