No Pain No Gain
By Steve Williams
Mitchell County
Howdy Friends
“No Pain, No Gain,” these words are an old proverb from the 1980s as an exercise motto that promises greater value rewards for the price of hard work. This concept is that if you are to become a stronger person, Physically, Mentally, Spiritually you would experience pain along the way. We all know that you get out of something what you put into something. You put a little effort, little gain, you put a lot of effort you get a greater gain. Pain is not anything that people want or like to experience. The reason being you have no true control over pain. Whether it is Physical, Mental, or Spiritual pain it is out of our hands. Yes, I know that you can take medicine for physical and even mental pain but for spiritual pain, you must work through or plow through it. So in reality they are all out of our hands.
We all want a pain-free life. Even in Paul’s life, we know that he had a thorn in the flesh and he asked 3 times for it to be removed and we know that it wasn’t. The Lord told Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” I want you to know that I’m allergic to pain because it hurts. If I were to announce to my church congregation that for the next several weeks we will all be coming together to practice and experience pain and suffering I doubt seriously that I would have very many people to show up, if any. C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our Pleasures, Speaks in our Conscience, but Shouts in our Pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” And it’s sad to say many Christians have become hard of hearing.
May I ask you what motivates you to make changes in your life? Think back to a time when you made a change in your life and ask the question, “What motivated me to make that change?” The greatest motivator that I’ve seen in my life and for other people to take action and to bring change into their lives is Pain. Now if I have hunger pains, I’m motivated to find something to eat. If I am experiencing the pain of no money, I soon get motivated to get a job. If I experience enough physical pain, I am motivated to see a doctor. Pain is unpleasant, but it is a strong motivator and can be a call to take action in our lives.
In my life, I have experienced pain due to sins that I have committed. And when we sin we experience discipline. Discipline is painful. However, later on, that pain produces something good for those that have experienced it, like righteousness and peace. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ.” So pain and suffering are normal! But you know what? I want to avoid pain at all costs. How about You? But you know what the Bible Says in James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (Pain) 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” In other words, if I want to be mature as a Christian Disciple, which should be all Christian’s goals, then I need to not run away from my pains and problems, but I need to use them to develop my faith. In other words: use the pain as a motivation for Action and Change. All through the Bible, we see that it was the people’s pain that led them to Jesus Christ. So if you experience Pain go to Jesus and ask Him for help. Remember the Bible says in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Pastor Steve Williams
Words Of Wisdom:
- Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. Lance Armstrong
- The climb might be tough and challenging, but the view is worth it. There is a purpose for that pain; you just can’t always see it right away. N/A
- Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable. John Patrick
- Our Purpose in this life is far greater than our pain. N/A
- True pain is living your life and never trusting in God because when you die without knowing God your pain will never go away. Steve Williams
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Steve Williams is the pastor of Berry Chapel Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. You can read more good Christian news from Steve HERE.
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