Monday, July 21, 2014

Pain

After a difficult day struggling with stomach and back pain that kept me up late and woke me up early, I decided to take a step back and recognize its blessing. To find meaning in all the other pain both within me and what I saw in others around me. 

I am grateful because it reminds me that we are human.

Pain teaches me how to accept my weaknesses and to love others more fully.

Pain teaches me that making an effort, even if personally dissatisfying or anxiously inadequate, is enough. 

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” - Elder Orson F. Whitney

But most importantly, pain reminds me that there's somebody who's always there and walked that path already. Who devoted His life to blessing and alleviating the agony in the world. Who suffered every hurt so He could completely understand my lacking and pick me up when my best isn't enough to fix it. 

Pain - whether it comes in the form of searing stomach aches, intense self doubt, heartache, or something else - pain can be shared with the Great Physician.

It deepens and enriches faith.

It makes bitter sweet, and creates the power to become one who can one day lift up those who hurt.

If you ever find yourself in pain - whether that's heartbreak, discouragement, a broken body part or mind - I believe the Atonement can strengthen and heal us. 

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53: 3-5

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting this Hillary! This is exactly what I needed to hear. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Always great to hear Paige, I was feeling hesitant about sharing it so I appreciate your comment.

    ReplyDelete