Exquisite Pain

Pain is not a popular subject, but one we are all aware of and experience often.  It is not something that we choose, and if we must choose it, we do it reluctantly.  

Pain is a part of the human experience.  

One of our favorite movies is “The Princess Bride.”  It is a parody of fairy tales and ‘happily ever after’ stories, but through it’s comedic delivery, it is full of quotable lines and nonsensical moments delivered by good acting.  One of those lines we quote often is “I do not think it means what you think it means,” to point out when a word is taken out of context or used incorrectly.  And there are so many others which make me smile as I think of them.

The one that really sticks with me in the 20 or more years of viewing this movie is when the hero answers the heroine’s angst (“You mock my pain!”) with, “Life is pain, highness.  Anyone who says differently is selling something.”  He has reason to be cynical, but you will have to watch the movie to know why and how they find their ‘happily ever after.’

We all come to this hard truth at some point in our lives.  It usually comes with adulthood.  Sadly, more children are learning the pain of life at a younger age. Unless they have loving adults to help them understand and learn from the pain, they will most likely be scarred for life.  Pain is hard at any age.

What I call ‘exquisite pain’ is life changing pain.  

When we became parents and I faced the pain of giving birth, I learned to embrace pain and make it my friend.  I knew that if I fought this pain it would last longer, but if I welcomed the pain, I would soon know the joy of my new baby.  This was exquisite pain.  

Physical pains like paper cuts, scrapped knees, broken bones, surgeries, failing backs and arthritis are a part of all of our lives.  They happen every day, and they disrupt our routines  causing us to stop and take a moment to help our bodies heal.

Exquisite pain, however, can also be a deep wound to our hearts, and it can go deep enough to disrupt the rhythm of our souls.

A friend of mine came to me recently concerned because she was depressed.  She was confused and was asking God if this depression was from Him or did it come from the enemy.  Knowing the oppression of depression myself, we discussed how sadness and depression can be a way for God to focus our thoughts on Him, and only if we stay in the oppression can the enemy use it to destroy us.  

“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.”  Isaiah 43:2

When we know His presence in our pain, we know Him intimately.  

We know His deep love.  

We know His healing.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4

There is much to be learned about our Abba through pain.  It is personal…

Exquisite Pain

Exquisite  pain has come to me.

        It rests upon my breast.

                 So sharp,

                 So defined

I see every angle of this pain.

It skews my mind

        It contorts my self

                 I run from it

                 I embrace it

Every aspect of my life is measured by this pain.

It has claimed control

        And yet I know

        It is only in understanding

                It’s source

                It’s power

               And it’s relief

That it will benefit me.

Exquisite pain has left it’s mark

        Remembrance comes quickly 

                Like a cold winter morning

                Brace against it

 Prepare and be warmed.

Exquisite pain sends me to a place of healing

        And more comfort than there is pain to challenge it

               I go there willingly

               Eagerly

 And I rest.

______________________________________________________________________________________

The circumstances which provoked this poem back in 1994 were life changing.  Painful to the soul and body.  But I can say with all sincerity that I am grateful for the memory of that pain because it brought me to a place with my Abba, my Father, my God and Savior, Jesus Christ which could not have been accomplished in any other way.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”  

Psalms 34:18

Since that time….yes, there has been more pain, both physical and emotional.  

Spiritual and physical depletion…  BUT GOD!  

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

Isaiah 41:10

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7

God never intended for His creation (us) to have to say to each other, “Life is pain, princess.”

He gave us free will… and we choose our own way over His way.  Our way causes pain.

He made a way for us to live as He intended through Jesus Christ.

If you want to know more, click here: The Gospel

He gives us hope of a life with Him without pain.  

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever.”  Revelation 21:4

That is not a fairy tale.  That is Truth!

If you know someone who needs to hear this, please share!