Our Reaction to Pain

There was a small boy who was given a bike for his birthday. Just what he had hoped for. He practised at home before venturing out and kept falling off at first. He was impatient to show it to his friends, so off he went. They all inspected it and gave it the thumbs up. He felt so proud because he was now one of them. It was alright at first, but then he lost control and fell off, badly scraping his knee. It hurt, but what really hurt was that they laughed at him and taunted him. When he got home he kept quiet about it and put some sticking plaster over the wound.

For several days he didn't use his bike or play with the boys, because he didn't want to get hurt again. His knee was painful, so he put more plaster on it and tried to forget about it. The trouble was, it got so inflamed he realised it had to be seen to. In trepidation he asked his father to see to it. He thought he would be told off, but instead, he put him on his knee, gently removed the plaster and bathed it clean, removing any grit and dirt. He then placed some special ointment on it. He felt better already. His father seemed to understand what it was all about and reassured him that it would take a while to learn to ride it properly and he would help him. "Just you wait until you show the other boys!" he said.

Isn't this how it can be for many of us, where there is pain just below the surface. Some of us may even have a well of pain deep down that goes back a long way. We may not have been hurt physically, but may have been abused emotionally in some way, words of condemnation may have been spoken over us perhaps.

If it stays hidden it can begin to spread and fester and affect our lives in a disabling way. It can also lead us into unresolved anger or unhelpful behaviour patterns in trying to maintain the status quo. It stops us living to the full and reaching our potential. There comes a time when we know it has to be seen to.

Our heavenly Father is just waiting for us to bring it out for Him to look at. He will then put us on His knee and bathe the wound, remove the impurities and make it better. He will also give us words of encouragement to move forward.

"My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." Song of Songs 2:14 New International Version

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Between Head and Heart

I write this to all those of us who call ourselves Christians.

If we are born again - or however we care to describe that amazing miraculous spiritual awakening - it was not because of our attributes or intellect, but through the grace of God. Perhaps someone was praying for us. It was not a mental assent to a spiritual truth, but a personal response of heart and will to God's love, realising that He gave His only Son 'for me.' That was just a beginning of bringing into being in reality within us, what God has made us to be. Nothing can take away or added to that precious salvation, but it has to worked in us to become evident in our experience.

Years ago when I voiced within a group, that I was feeling particularly bereft and unloved, someone said to me "Jesus, loves you, so what's the problem?" The problem was that I needed more of the reality of God's love for me deep down in my experience and I had a longing for more. I had considerable 'head' knowledge but my heart needed to engage more. The problem also was, for the same reason, that person could not identify where I was at.

Those who are hurting inside - and that goes for most of us at some time or other - are very sensitive to what they would call empty words and will sense if it is real for us. They are looking for the Word with flesh on.

We need to be real because there is a whole hurting world needing this reality. God has made it all possible, but most of us are still on the way. God is committed to finishing what He has started, the question is, do we want more and are we prepared to face the pain in the process. My wife and I were at a large church gathering a few years ago, when we were asked to signify whether we wanted to know more of God's love. Surprisingly few hands were raised.

What do our hearts say?

"Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation," Philippians 2:12

"Yes, may you come to know his love - although it can never be fully known - and so be completely filled with the very nature of God." Ephesians 3:19

"Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!" Matthew 5:3 All quotes Good News Bible

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I Am the Lord Who Heals You

I find that healing is often a topic for discussion amongst Christians, with far-ranging views expressed. When however, we or a loved one are in need it becomes more personal, even desperate, a matter for action rather than thinking.

It's when we expose our 'wound' and bring it into God's loving presence that He can get to work. I have experienced emotional healing when traumas in my life have been transformed into a blessing and no longer have a hold over me and I have witnessed others enter into such life-changing freedom. I have also known physical healing.

One day I rather foolishly tried to do two things at once. I was carrying our heavy grandson in one arm, while trying to open and close the spring-loaded tailgate of our car with the other. Somehow my hand got in the way as the tailgate came slamming down on my finger, steel edge against bone. I put the boy down and instinctively held my finger up to Father, reaching out to Him in desperation, from the depths of my being. My wife was also praying. It looked ugly and the pain was excruciating, but after ascertaining nothing was broken, I wrapped it round with a wet cloth and tried to stay focussed on Father.

After an hour or so, the pain had eased considerably and when I uncovered the finger, it appeared completely normal as if nothing had happened. Days later there was no sign of bruising. You can imagine my gratitude.

So after all the prayer, why hasn't He healed me of chronic fatigue syndrome (M.E.) for which there is no medical cure? One thing for certain was that He had my attention as never before as I embarked on a journey where I wanted answers. I found there were steps to take, things to relinquish and ways to change. I can look back and apart from being stronger now, there has been a welcome change emotionally, mentally and spiritually, so I can see the benefits. His healing is ongoing and I am expectant for more. I may still have an illness but the illness does not have me.

I believe what God says in His word and have no doubt that Jesus heals today. Healing - emotional, physical, mental and spiritual - is all part of the salvation package, you can't separate it. Whether it's instant or long delayed, He is committed to healing us through and through in His way and in His time.

"I am the LORD, who heals you." Exodus 15:26 New International Version

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