How can pain help me?

The Bible urges us to arm ourselves so we'll be able to withstand the tests and trials of this life. Every person on earth, knows the pain of weakness. The pain of brokenness. Of hard times. Apostle Paul seemed to think "arming ourselves" gets us through the tough times, but how do we do that? How do we get from pain to victory?

I admit, none of us like pain, but from pain we learn to avoid things that are harmful. Imagine how mutilated a child would be if they experienced no pain from a burn or a cut. Or, if no emotional pain was incurred from hurting others? The truth is: we learn from pain. We learn to make better and safer decision. We learn to "arm" ourselves with someone stronger than we are.

Paul knew something about pain. In fact, in 2 Corinthians 1:8, he wrote, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life...". Paul is talking about a weakness that is "so utterly burdened" beyond your strength that you lose all interest in continuing the battle. You're done. It's too tough. Too hard to go on.

But he goes on to say he learned through "being pressed beyond strength", that God was his deliverer. Paul talked a lot about a weakness that helped him endure affliction, persecution, perplexity and despair for a purpose: "that the life of Jesus might be manifest in your body" (2 Cor. 4:8-11).

Paul thought we needed God's strength to endure insults without retaliation and suffering reproaches, without bitterness (2 Cor. 12:10). That's a high task, because our flesh doesn't like to suffer.

In all these hurtful and painful things, God promises to give us grace to stand and power to keep standing. In red letters you will read where God said, "My grace is sufficient" (2 Cor 12:9). Our weakness is good because without it we never experience the fullness of divine power. Our weakness is good because without it mercy is something we'd never understand. Our weakness is good because it demands our soul to look beyond itself for answers. To a higher being. To God.

Paul put it this way: 2 Cor 12:7-10

"So, to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

We don't want pain. We don't want despair or disappointment, but when we are weak, He is strong. He is our armor. "Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal 6:9). Jesus is a rock in a weary land.