In seasons when we face so much pain and trials, some questions can cross our minds if there is really any gain in pain. The true-life story below inspires us on the unseen gain in enduring pain.
A boy was born in Texas, USA with a deformed heart which was believed to be an incurable disease. This boy was not expected to live and he became paralyzed and bedridden at the age of 15. He became a Christian and during this season, he had what is described as a dramatic conversion experience, as he reported dying due to his deformed heart condition three times in 10 minutes , perceived the horror of hell and returned to life. Even after his conversion to Christianity, he remained paralyzed. It was surely not an easy experience for him. While other children had opportunity to go out and carry out their activities, he remained in bed. He endured his condition and one day, he read Mark 11:23-34 which says: “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” This boy said he was raised from his deathbed by the revelation of “faith in God’s word” after reading Mark 11:23-24. This boy grew up to be a great minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He travelled throughout the United states and into Canada spreading the word of God.
The story narrated is the story of Kenneth E. Hagin who is the founder of the renowned Rhema Bible Training College. The Bible scripture in Mark 11:23-24 defined Kenneth Hagin’s ministry and was his most frequently quoted verse. It is interesting to know that it was in the heart of pain that Kenneth Hagin found the scripture that defined his ministry. Kenneth Hagin’s Ministries has impacted many multitudes of people all over the world while he was alive and continues to impact people after his physical death. Kenneth Hagin is greatly remembered not only as a great minister of the gospel but as a great family man who had his family at heart.
My dear sister/brother, did you notice in the story recounted above how Kenneth Hagins’ focus on God in times of pain resulted in gain not only for him but for generations? There is truly gain in pain if we focus on God in times of pain and if we come to this understanding, we would be able to find joy even amidst the suffering in this world.
Isaiah 48:10 says: “I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.”
The verse above helps us perceive that suffering can be a tool for refining Christians. Refine means to remove impurities. This insinuates our present suffering is a tool, refining us to becoming more like Christ.
Romans 5:3-5 says: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
The suffering refinery helps to develop endurance in us. Amidst the suffering, if we cling to God, He will give us the grace to endure. While enduring, we learn to withstand hardship and stand firm in our faith. While enduring hardship, our character is being refined as God uses this suffering to bring out and remove our impurities, making the Character of Christ in us to become clearer, enabling us to manifest more of the Christ-like character. Character that is nourished by the word of God progressively becomes more stable and enables us to focus more on the things of God. This Christ-like nature strengthens our confident hope in salvation through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Focusing on God in times of pain helps develop endurance, character and hope.
Let us heed to the word in 1 peter 1:6-7 which says:
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
Sometimes, looking for easier routes out of suffering in our lives may be aborting God’s process of refining us. Suffering in the lives of a Christian is there for a reason. Focus on God in times of suffering and let your pain become gain.