Agreeing With Pain

In a birth class that Jenny and I recently attended, the instructor talked extensively about how important it is to handle pain correctly during labor. According to our teacher, unless a woman "agrees" with her labor pain and works with it as a natural part of the birth process, the birth will not progress very effectively. Although she clarified that the use of drugs can serve a legitimate role, she taught us that a woman should not enter labor with the main goal of fighting and eliminating all pain. Instead, she should acknowledge its presence and view it as a necessary part of bringing a precious human life into the world. The joy of life can only come from the sorrow of pain.

Interestingly, Jesus dwelt on similar thoughts in the hours before his death. In John 16, right after alluding to his death and resurrection, he used the analogy of childbirth to illustrate the roller-coaster of emotions they would experience. "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come. but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world" (John 16.21). It was necessary for Jesus to leave his apostles and die a violent death and their sorrow was unavoidable. But that sorrow would quickly transition into joy when he rose from the grave three days later - just as the sorrow of a woman in labor evaporates when her child is born.

When we experience pain, do we accept it as a necessary part of our own spiritual birth process, or do we simply focus on resisting it and eliminating all traces of pain in our lives`? When our good deeds are misunderstood and false words are spoken about us, do we well up with indignation and resentment, or do we remember that we are blessed to share the suffering and reward of^-the prophets (Matthew 5.11 -12)? When we feel that our needs are being neglected b_y others, do we become bitter towards other people, or do we allow the experience to drive us closer to the only person who can truly fulfill our every need (1 Peter 2.23)? When we get sick, do we merely cry out for God to stop the pain, or do we allow Him to teach us valuable character lessons through it (2 Corinthians 12.7-9)?

Let's work hard to resist our culture's obsession with ridding ourselves of pain and discomfort at any cost. While our pain in this life can be hard to bear, it is leading us to a joyful glory far beyond our ability to comprehend. As Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, "This momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4.17). Pain is God's molding tool - it is how he fashions our characters and readies us for eternity. Let's agree with our pain. Nathan