I’m sharing what has worked for me, and I’m hoping my ideas can help others. But I don’t have all the answers. I just know some of the ways that God has worked in my life to heal me and grow me and slowly transform me more and more into the image of Christ.
Seeking God When Life Hurts
Recently, my chronic knee and back pain was more than I could bear. All I could do was cry. What should we do when pain becomes unbearable? This is what I suggest and how it worked out for me.
Step 1: Come Before God
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
I came before God in prayer and in my tears. I knew I could rest in his care. God welcomed me before him. I am a beloved child of God. I knew I was safe in his presence.
Step 2: Present your request
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
I begged God to allow me to feel his presence. I knew he was with me and dwelled within me. I knew he loved me. I just wanted a here and now experience that he really was there. That was my prayer.
Step 3: Expect God to Hear You and Respond to Your Request
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24
God lovingly answered my prayer. No, I didn’t feel his presence. But I was no longer overwhelmed by my pain. I knew my God was with me and loved me, and this brought me great peace.
Step 4: Focus on God and His Love, Not on Your Pain
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:16
I think about how big and powerful and majestic God is, yet he loves me and calls me his precious child. God is good and perfect and infinite in all that he is. He loves me perfectly today and forever. His great love for me motivates me to know him more, love him more, obey him more, and serve him more each and every day. This includes loving and serving others. I need to love them. With my eyes off myself, my pain slips into the background.
Step 5: Move On, Abiding in Christ
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
John 15:9
I need Jesus. My pain reminds me about how very much I need God. I can move on with my pain only by abiding in Jesus and his love
Take Care of Yourself
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?
1 Corinthians 6:19
If you are in pain, emotional or physical, please make sure that you are taking care of yourself and, if needed, getting professional help. In addition to my primary care physician, I am currently seeing a psychologist, a pain management doctor, a rheumatologist, and an orthopedic doctor and well as being in physical therapy twice a week.
Here are some other suggestions.
Taking Care of Your Physical Self
- Eat well and exercise.
- Get enough sleep.
- Get regular medical care as needed.
- If needed, see a specialist.
- If prescribed medicine, take as directed.
- Notify your doctor when your condition changes.
Taking Care of Your Emotional Self
- Manage your stress.
- Find things that you enjoy that are relaxing.
- Have a heart of thankfulness and an attitude of gratitude.
- Be forgiving. Do not hold grudges. Let go of the hurts that capture your mind and won’t let go. Get help with this if need be.
- Find ways to enjoy nature.
- Find an outlet for creativity.
- Stay connected to people.
Final Word
God is good. Abide in him. You can bring all your pain and suffering, all your hurts and struggles and confusion to him. He loves you far more than you can imagine. He will care for you. He won’t always answer our prayers as we expect, but God will always lovingly answer them.
A Prayer
Dear Father God,
Thank you that you welcome us into your presence and that you are with us in a special way when we pray.
Father, sometimes we become very self-focused with our pain. Help us to turn to you and to abide in you. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus and off of ourselves. Help us to think of the needs of others around us and look for ways to respond to those needs.
Father God, you are so very good to us. Thank you for who you are and all you do. Your great love for us is truly amazing. Help us remember this when pain makes it hard. Help us to turn to you, our Father of mercies and God of all comfort. We love you with all our hearths, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strengths. Show us how to love you more.
Your grateful daughter,
SJR