Pain comes. Pain goes. Pain comes . . . sometimes pain stays. An unwelcome guest in any life, for any reason.

How many thousands of things can be the source of one’s pain?

Physical reasons. Illnesses, chronic disease, catastrophic health events, many types of cancer . . . no one description can cover all things that attack our bodies.

There are things that produce tangible marks on our bodies. Burns, skin cancers, broken bones . . .

Others produce intangible pain. Joint issues, spinal problems, muscular degenerative diseases, brain tumors, TMJ, intestinal issues . . . internal physical pain wreaking havoc on body and soul.

Unseen physical pain is hard to describe, almost impossible to find words to give voice to what is inside us.

Invisible pain is also caused by emotional or mental troubles, grief, abuse, abandonment, relational and family troubles . . . .

Then there are horrific natural disasters, accidents, shootings, war. Things out of our control threaten to destroy as they assault our lives.

And underlying all of life’s trials are some non-avoidable questions.

What do we do with our pain?

Who will we be in the midst of life’s circumstances, even those tragedies that make trusting God sound ludicrous to a human mind?

Will we cower in sadness, wallow in hopelessness, sink into despair?

Or will we believe God is who He says He is? Ask God to help us stand strong. Endure with grace.

Will we befriend others enduring like events? Compassion and empathy can pour forth like a flood from those who have suffered greatly.

God knows our struggles, enters in, sees our brokenness and grief. Hears our cries. Feels our pain.

Jesus as a fully human man suffered physically, emotionally, mentally, intellectually in all the ways we ever could.

Jesus struggled mightily before He chose to say, not my will but yours. Walked willingly into the injustice, scorn, shame, flogging and crucifixion.

This Jesus is the God who says, I will never leave you – not even in the worst of times.

This Jesus says, I Am . . . I AM Enough. I Am sufficient for all of life, all our days.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 29, writes: Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, “It’s all a lie”? 

. . . Every time my theology becomes clear to my own mind, I encounter something that contradicts it. As soon as I say with Paul (Phil 4:19), I believe God shall supply all [my] need . . . the testing of my faith begins . . .

What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it . . .

Life is not a test for God. But it is a test of our will.

What path will we choose for today? What truth will we believe? Will our focus stay stuck in the muck and mire of life, or will we choose to look to Jesus? Choose to look for someone to bless rather than curse the day?

Spend time soaking in the Word of God. Pray until we find comfort and peace, find our Hope in Jesus.

God is enough . . . for the pain of today and for whatever tomorrow may bring.