From Pain to Purpose: The Transformative Power of Endurance

The verse makes an intense statement. It sounds to me like “Keeping the pace will keep you from death.” And yet, these were Jesus' words to His disciples about the coming days. Persecution is real and intense. While we face it differently here in the U.S. than other countries, it doesn’t mean we slacken our pace. In fact, some would argue our pace might be better off more challenged since lack of persecution can often lead to making a god out of comfort.

Before I’ve lost many of you with what many view as a darker side of our Christian reality, I hope you know by now I could never leave us there. Because Christ never leaves us there. I know many of you are facing struggles and heartaches that are exhausting to keep carrying everyday. We feel our own weights too. But I wanted to share the beauty of the endurance. I want to share that while bitter to drink, I do really think it’s result is a gift. I hope after reading this you will too.

Let me explain..

About 15 years ago I developed an intense pain in my left hand. It would appear out of no where, crippling me with a knife-like stabbing feeling. I began a parade of visits to doctors. I was poked, prodded, tested, you name it. The result? No answers.

One occasion, I was told by an experienced neurologist that I had Multiple Sclerosis and I needed to start adjusting my life. She told me to get a full MRI to confirm and book a follow up appointment with their office. One very expensive medical bill and weeks of waiting and hours of prayer later, the test results were negative for MS. While I was deeply thankful, I was also back to square one with some new prayer tools in my belt.

Many times during busy days working in the hospital as a nurse, the pain would be incredibly intense. But my patients needed my care. I prayed hard through the pain. I would move incredibly slowly, trying to keep my face calm. Someone else needed me, it wasn’t the time for me to put own needs ahead of theirs. It was becoming much easier to shut out the more self “me” voice when others were in need. I was also learning I needed to take things move more slowly and be more intentional.

A few years back during a small group, I mentioned I’d really like prayer for the pain in my hand. No doctor had been able to figure out the issue. I was tired of constantly protecting my left hand. I was tired of the fear of pain surprising me out of no where. The group prayed me.

The next morning, there it was again, like a needling shooting into my hand. But my response this time was totally different. I allowed the pain to put me on my knees. And I prayed.

I didn’t bother praying for the pain to go away. Somehow it just wasn’t the most important thing. I thought of all the people I loved going through other kinds of pain and struggles. I prayed for the nation, for anything God brought to mind. Tears streamed down my face as I heard the Scripture “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Over the last decade and a half, I wouldn’t have chosen up front to experience through those and several other struggles on account of pain in my hand. But I would definitely choose to learn the things God taught me through enduring it and surrendering it.

I encourage us all this weeks as we memorize this verse to ask the Lord to help us gain new perspective on the things we are enduring. There is a reason Christ said it would be life-giving.