On Pain and God

Pain is inEvitable

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. Numbers 22:25

I’ve read a few books on the subject of Pain of recent and often wondered why people point fingers at God. 

Some people confuse tribulations and persecutions with avoidable physical pain. 

Of course tribulations and persecutions can cause pain. For example, when Paul and Silas were beaten in Acts 16, there’s no doubt that they experienced some pain. Also, when he said thrice he was beaten with rods, surely he must have suffered some broken body or bones. 

The Bible never promised us a life without tribulation. Starting with Jesus, very early in his teachings he said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10). Persecution can come with pain. And toward the end of his journey here on earth, he told the disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

The Apostles of the Lord also added their voice to this subject. Apostle Paul said: “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). James admonished those going through trials in his letter, saying, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). 

From all their writings, it seems persecutions, tribulations and trials is part of the requirements for entering into the Kingdom of God. And if anyone want a list of what persecutions and tribulations entail, please see below:

Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 2 Cor. 11:23-28

However, most of the pain the believers of our days suffer, with the exception of our brothers and sisters in troubled zones, is not as a result of any persecution . Like Andrew Wommack once remarked, if many of us are charged for being Christians, there will be no evidence to prosecute us. Our christianity is too lame to provoke any persecution. Our faith is too weak to cause any stir. 

So where do most of our pain come from? It is self-inflicted. Like the story in Numbers above, Balaam pain is caused by his greed. Yet if you asked him, he would say God sent his angel to afflict him. 

That is why I’m bold to say this: Pain is evitable. Pain is avoidable. 

On Paul’s list above, you won’t find any sickness or disease mentioned. No. Cancer is not tribulation. Hepatitis is not persecution. Leukemia is not part of the package to enter the Kingdom of God. Most of the life-threatening diseases that is killing us today come as a result of our lifestyle and bad eating habits. Our fast food culture is inflicting a number of health hazards on us. So also our sedentery life style. Some of us have also engaged in some dangerous lifestyle before we finally surrendered to Christ, and we are reaping the fruits of those habits right now. It’s like the old adage: Curses are like chickens; they always come home to roost.

Two great helps God has given us to protect us against pain: the word of God and the Spirit of God. If we would pay attention to those two, we can live free of pain. We don’t have to go through pain. 

Problems come when we disregard these two agents. For example, Proverbs 4:4 says: My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.” Jesus came to give us life, and life more abundantly. We can’t talk of abundant life when we are groaning in pain of sickness and disease. 

The good news is this: Whatever the source or cause of that pain, there is healing in the name of Jesus. We don’t have to rationalize, philosophize or even theologize it, pain is not of God. God does not tempt anyone with pain (James 1:13-14). That is why we can confidently approach Him for healing and deliverance from whatever we are passing through.