Pain - What's it Good For? And why is Pain part of life?

Pain—What's It Good For? And why is pain part of life?

Pain is an inevitable part of everyday life. Some suffer more pain than others, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for it. Let’s first consider what good can come from pain. Heat is a warning that warns us to pull back before we get burned. When we suffer an injury, the pain tells us to seek help or at least to clean and dress our wounds. So in essence, pain is a warning system that tells us something is wrong. Pain can cause an emotional reaction, which might lead to screaming, cussing, or both. This reaction lets those around us know that something is wrong and that we might need help. It seems that everything we do can cause pain. Eating too much (pain) or exerting too much (pain), or even sleeping too much, can cause pain. Pain is there to warn us, but the more we ignore it, the more pain we get. 

Pain is like a built-in alarm system that alerts us to potential harm, helping us protect ourselves. But it's not just physical—emotional pain can be just as real. And while it's not always easy, pain can be transformative, helping us grow, develop resilience, and find meaning in our experiences. 

If all we had to go by was pain, we would never know good, and the reverse is true as well. How could we know good if we never suffered pain? The Bible says that Jesus saw the joy set before Him and endured the cross with its scorn and shame. Pain is powerful, but the benefits are even more powerful. No matter what you are going through, our Mediator Jesus has gone through so much more, and He is able to get you through whatever pain is attacking you.