Although I’ve known this Bible verse since I was a child, the words “neither shall there be any more pain” failed to grab my attention until physical pain bombarded me later in life—typical of young people, I suppose. Now that I’ve experienced chronic pain, I rivet on this promise.
On a particularly rough day, I told God, “Please, just take me to heaven!” He will, but at His appointed time. In the meantime, I seek relief, but it appears I will be stuck with a measure of pain.
And so will many others—whether it be wrenching headaches, spasming backaches, needle-like foot agony, or piercing hip distress. It. Just. Hurts.
This devotion is not intended as a pity party, but I admit, I am weary of it all and fed up with trying this and that. Drained from endeavoring to cope while putting on a show of bravery. Exhausted from pushing through. Tired of explaining to others why I can’t do this or that right now—or any more at all. Tired of biting my tongue as I defy adding “chronic complaining” to my list of chronic this and chronic that.
One day, however, I realized something. One wonderful day, I will experience my last headache. And so will all of us. God will remove the fill-in-the-blank chronic pains we endure if we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior and inherited heaven as our forever home. These pains that we cannot rid ourselves of on earth will end.
When self-pity tempts me, I pray God will help me to worship Him. He is worthy and promises heaven despite my unworthiness. Until then, He is present and pours comfort, strength, and joy into me. I can’t whine and worship at the same time.
The idea that pain will be gone one day is beyond appealing; it is heavenly. Just closing my eyes and trying to imagine that is difficult. But I believe it, nonetheless.
How does hearing “neither shall there be any more pain” make you feel?
(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
A Wisconsin native, Lauri Lemke Thompson appreciates living with her husband in the lovely Ozark mountains in Branson, Missouri. She is active in Christian Women’s Connection (Stonecroft) and the Ozarks Chapter of the American Christian Writers. Her two books, Hitting Pause and Pressing Forward, are collections of her columns, articles, and devotions. Her bimonthly column appears in the Branson Globe newspaper.