No one enjoys pain. No one enjoys hospitalization. No one enjoys the difficulties and hardships that come to each of us. We live in a broken world and painful experiences will eventually come to each of us. Don’t misunderstand me. There are many moments of joy and gladness in life. However! I want to share with my friends who are experiencing a difficult and painful stretch in life.

In fifty years of ministry, I have walked through painful times with hundreds of people. I can testify that what I have quietly shared with dozens of people really is true from personal experience. Though I was absolutely confident that my counsel was accurate, there is a difference between telling someone what you know and telling someone what you have experienced personally.

You know that I have experienced emotional as well as physical pain. Without sounding like I am living in denial, please understand how I have been blessed by the quiet moments spent with the Lord. I have shared these with others over the years. Now these simple but precious principles have become a blessing to me personally.

1. There is a special fellowship or sharing together with the Lord when life hurts (Philippians 3:10).

2. There is an outworking of pain that results in a clearer focus on how short life is and how long eternity is (2 Corinthians 4:17).

3. There is a quiet constant reminder that He is strong, but I am weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Learning more about His strength is such a blessing. Being reminded of how weak I am is not pleasant, but it is necessary.

4. There is an assurance that I am not alone in times of pain. In fact, the pain I experience is not unique to me (1 Corinthians 10:13). As I proceed through this time, I know there will be plenty of people with whom I will be able to associate and share (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

5. There is a wonderful sense of security that no matter what the battle experience may be, the Lord really is the Rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:1-2).

6. There is the knowledge that this is not wasted time. There are lessons in the “He maketh me to lie down” times of my life. (Lord, please help me to learn them quickly, so we don’t have to repeat a lot of these lessons.) He is the Lord of schedules which includes the stops as well as the times of going (Psalm 27:14).

7. There is the great joy in knowing that that wonderful day is coming closer and closer when the Lord Himself will dwell with us, wipe away all tears from our eyes and there will be no more pain (Revelation 21:1-4).
-www.michaelpeck.org