Pain as a Catalyst for Change

Today a well-dressed businessman got on the bus, sat down and started reading. He was not familiar as I usually catch a later bus but work ended early due to the holiday. I paused as I noticed the title of his book: If I Were God, I'd End all the Pain.  I considered that idea for a few minutes and realized without pain, my life would be stagnant.

Recently, I had a conversation where I declared that I wanted a life pain free. Pain was difficult and well, it hurt. My very wise friend commented that "pain causes us to change." I was struck by that idea. As I pondered it for a few minutes, I realized the truth it contained went beyond my current situation.

Consider the following:

• The pain of touching a hot stove causes a child to quickly move their hand
• The pain of loneliness causes people to find friends & lovers
• The pain of hunger causes people to find food to eat

In my own life:

• Physical pain in my shoulder resulted in a doctor visit for relief
• Emotional pain resulted in finding a good therapist to help me sort through my feelings 

As a result, I am (slowly) moving to a place where I hope to accept the pain that life brings, even if I understanding why it exists seems beyond human comprehension. While I have not read the book, I believe the author has forgotten that there is a purpose to everything that happens in our lives. Perhaps our pain does not benefit ourselves but causes others, both known and unknown, to reconsider their own lives & priorities. In retrospect, I see how my vast experiences with pain has grown and shaped me in ways I never imagined possible. I've grown and stretched out of what I was into what God has for me. In a sense, creating NEW out of OLD.

Sitting in church this evening, I considered the pain of Jesus' birth. His mother, Mary, experienced the physical pain of labor and the emotional pain of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy - in those days punishable by death. Yet, out of her pain came the Son of God who was both God and Man! He was to be the Savior & Redeemer of the world.

If God had ended Mary's pain, who would save us from our sins?

If God ends my pain, what things, great or small, could not be accomplished?