This is first and foremost for those of you who live with chronic pain of one kind or another. I am probably not going to tell you anything you don’t already know, but pain affects our world-view and we sometimes need to be reminded that we are not alone in this situation.
Yesterday Joyce and I ran some errands and ended up the day at a unique thrift store. It is unique because there is a room carved out in the back that is filled to the brim with thousands of used books; most of them religious. Some are good, some are bad, some are old books that are out of print and lost to the Christian world that doesn’t even know what they have lost. Men have literally spent a lifetime studying the Scriptures to help us know more about the character of this God who is sovereign over all. Who cares? Sadly, not many Christians do!!
One of the small paperbacks we found was “Rose from Brier” by Amy Carmichael. It is a collection of letters, etc. that she wrote after her accident. Her motivation was that the majority of people who write books of comfort are well people writing to the unwell. She explains it thus: “The toad beneath the harrow (plow) knows exactly where each tooth-point goes; the butterfly upon the road preaches contentment to that toad.” She concludes by saying, “There can be minutes when the toad is not properly grateful to the butterfly—no, not even if he comes dressed like a good Christian. He is upon the road; he isn’t under the harrow; he never was there.” If you live with chronic pain or illness, you understand what she was saying. (Actually, I believe everyone endures pain of some kind and at some point in life.)
Our Father in heaven is called the “God of all comfort” for good reason, and there are hundreds of verses that tell us how He comforts and reassures us; just reading them brings us assurance of His love and care, for I have found that constant pain or long-term illness can be a real test of our belief that He really does care about “little old me!” Nothing chases away those thoughts like David’s very honest writings. Also, reading biographies of people who have endured much for God puts a true perspective on our problems. Find one on David Livingston or John Bunyan.
One of my favorite verses is 1Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Whatever kind of pain we live with, we like to know that what we are going through is useful to God and has purpose, don’t we? This includes pain that isn’t physical…long-term emotional pain is just as debilitating and can turn physical.
Amy Carmichael wrote; “Before the winds that blow do cease, Teach me to dwell within Thy calm; Before the pain has passed in peace, Give me, my God, to sing a psalm. Let me not lose the chance to prove the fullness of enabling love. O Love of God, do this for me; Maintain a constant victory.” If by chance you can find this little book, I know it will bless you.