When The Pain Seems Greater Than the Gain

There are some situations we find ourselves in, where the pain is so great and seemingly so prolonged that we ask God why we must suffer this way, and we may even beg Him to take away the situation itself or perhaps the person causing the pain.

We mouth the scripture texts we know, we cry out to God, but the instant situation only grows worse: a tyrant boss, a hateful co-worker, a child making the wrong choices, a hurtful spouse, a terrible neighbour, an illness that suddenly overtakes us, and the list could go on and on. Why God? Why won’t you take this thing away? Why keep me in this situation for so long?

The night before Jesus was to be arrested and crucified, He cried in the garden of Gethsemane alone:

Lord, if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.

Our Saviour experienced pain and suffering for something he did not do, but his love for us took him to the cross.

What is our cross right now? Sometimes we cause our own suffering. Sometimes we bring burdens upon ourselves. 

But for those times when we know it's not our fault, we have made the right decisions, we obeyed God and still painful circumstances overtake us, we have to reach deep inside our hearts and remember God’s promises:

Romans 8:28 (NIV):And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV): Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV): When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Our theology tells us that we will go through different seasons, but sometimes the winter drags on forever. We know that what God allows in our lives will bring everlasting gain in the end. We are called to hold on in faith. We are to surround ourselves with an inner circle, those folks who will stand with us, who we can call upon when we want to cry out, cuss out, vomit out, but yet they will not condemn us. They understand.

The victory will be ours; the gain will be worth the pain in the end.