In September of last year I did a post on a Christian Song “Christ Is Mine Forever more.”

Here is a link to that post:   SONG

Today I want to return to that song which continues to significantly influence and impact my walk with Jesus.

Today, I’ll camp on the words, “I know my pain will not be wasted” Found in this song.

Experiencing pain is part of the human condition whether you’re Christian or not.

C.S. Lewis wrote a book, “The Problem of Pain.”

Pain is indeed a problem to deal with and understand, even though we want the Lord to remove it—whether it be, financial, relational or physical.

As I have been thinking of the line, “I know my pain will not be wasted” which in the song, is followed by “Christ completes His work in me.” Here are some thoughts I’ve been having.

My pain could be wasted if I:

• Get angry with God for allowing me to have the pain I’m experiencing
• Tell God, in no uncertain terms, that He made a mistake
• Don’t learn anything from my pain
• Make my pain the center of my life
• Believe that I should never have any pain or discomfort
• Keep demanding that God explain and tell me why He’s allowing this pain
• Asking for my will not His be done

The Lord says something attention-getting and most interesting to Paul when he asked for a certain “Pain” to be taken from him:

“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.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Here is the same verse in the Living Bible:

“Each time he said, no, but I am with you; that is all your need. My power shows up best in weak people. Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I’m glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off may own power and abilities.”

Now, I am not discounting the fact that God can remove pain and weaknesses in our lives, but there’s not an ironclad promise that He will do so. Paul being a prime example of a NO!

He’s certainly able, but the question is—is He willing; perhaps for reasons we my not yet understand or like?

Gerald Coffee, Captain U.S. Navy served 28 years as a jet pilot.

During his illustrious Navy career, he participated in daring low level reconnaissance flights over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, flew numerous missions off aircraft carriers, held Command and Staff duties in both the Atlantic and Pacific, and spent seven years as a POW in the communist prisons of North Vietnam.

I read an article where Captain Coffee shared his experience as to what his POW years were like—unbelievable pain on a number of fronts. What caught my attention was when he said that he went from asking:

                                          “Why me” to “Teach me.”

What can I learn from the painful time I’m going through that would make me a better person.

I want that kind of attitude when I have pain I’d rather not have. Instead of a Pity-Party, I want to humbly ask Jesus, to teach me!

Last year I had some significant medical challenges accompanied with a level of pain I had never experienced before. I learned: Patience, compassion, sensitivity and a host of other things I needed (and still need) in my life.

                                      I know my pain will not be wasted. Christ completes His work in me!

What kind of pain are you going through RIGHT NOW?

What can you learn from it, and how can you grow from it, so that it’s not wasted?