Entry Forty Nine: The Purpose of pain

In this letter I am trying to express with my own limited understanding of something very complex. To a very few people I suspect some of this may confuse them and make me out to sound like a masochist. But to the majority I hope this will help them understand a plausible reason for their to be pain in the past or present. Through much thought, what I discovered gives me peace of mind and heart.

I believe that pain serves a purpose. It is not the evil most people or all people see it to be in this age. I know that pain paints a vivid image, like a monster, which sums up what we need to change in our lives or run from, emotional/spiritual/or sensory. As stated in Psalm 119:67 "Before you made me sufer, I used to wander of, but now I hold onto your word". It is a god awful thing to experience or acquire at any given time through the course of our lives. Yet, these canvases blotched with cancer, aids, death, divorce, child abuse, and war all reflect something about the Artist (God) which is very important and we generally overlook. Without these things humanity (Us) would not have the color, texture, and even definition that is required to be a masterpiece. We would not have free will.

I believe without pain, our lives would amount to water colors and pencil sketches of stick figured men picking flowers. We would all be blissful shadows walking in a world without purpose and drive, only motivated to take shape by the casting of Gods Will. The driven life we experience every day through stretching our 'own' human will would not be achievable. The people who hit the finish line and win the race of life... what would they be called? Without the unexplainable stories of suffering, confusion, and life loathing trauma I wonder if we could be called art at all.  Those who overcome pain, would they be crafted uniquely, would their wills be considered strong, would they have value? Would we who are still in the process of dealing with our pain, would we all have the chance to take courage to heart, bravery to mind, and a steadfastness of integrity no human could ever snatch away when facing such hardships? Would we express the ability to out perform ourselves, others, and life itself?

I believe that from the beginning of time we were created to endure trials, and we were set up to face a hostile world. Trials not only force us to encounter proofs we at one point could never imagine possible, but they make us someone never before fathomable. Our lives would not be like great works if they did not have this unique quality of bringing awe and the unimaginable into existence through decisions we make. This is what the Artist created, all artists attempt to create. A true artist attempts to express and generate something apart of him/herself. Something that maybe has been observed, but perhaps never thought of before - that is unique and expressed by their hearts language. We know that Gods language is purely love. So what is better then adding a swatch of pain? Isn't it true this pain gives our lives contrast, and also allow us to 'make the choice' of loving God back? For instance, anyone can desire to live a easy life and find happiness in living one, but only a few desire the empowerment (love) to purposely take on hardship (pain) and find real joy.

I have come to realize in my walk of faith that it is perhaps paradoxical to assume God isn't real based on the fact you have pain in your life. We all have pain in our lives, and with out it we wouldn't recognize the many blessings we should be thankful for, the good things we do and believe in. I think it might be  irrational to accuse God of being wrong when he created a universe with pain and suffering. With out it we wouldn't be able to rate or assign value to the people, places, and memories which hold something unexplainably special inside our spirit. You already know this to be true, because when we overcome our pain the tides of our joy become well worth the trial. This experience of joy is also multiplied by the memory and fact you came out on the other side. With out pain there would be nothing to gage against. The grandness and complexity of this creation... would inevitably lose value... its real importance to the human soul.

I have come to accept pain is not a problem, it only becomes one when you don't recognize what its purpose is, and cant trust the one who decided to craft it - God. If the meaning of life is to grow, which means branching out, pushing past mental, emotional, physical and spiritual boundaries. Constantly going to the shoe store to buy and then break into your new pair of sneakers. Then I choose to follow in the footsteps of God not because it makes my life more comfortable, not because I am crazy, but because through these seasons I do mature and find understanding that would otherwise be overlooked due to appearing very odd at first glance.


Note to self: Pain will give me a reason to complain and then contemplate why it and many different things exist in my own life.

Note to self: Pain will give me a reason to come to the cross and find empowerment (love) so I can continue living the abundant life and sharing it with others.

Note to self: Pain will give me a reason to exist and a reason to overcome existence, to earn a kind of purple heart no one can ever remove from the most inner workings of my heart - if decide I to move forward in faith.

 I am not a survivor on earth. We are all warriors.


Isaiah 53
John 9:2, 3
2 Corinthians 12:10
Philippians 1:12-14
Hebrews 5: 8, 9
James 1:2-4
1 Peter 1:6, 7
1 Peter 2:21-24