Prodigal:  What do we do with pain?

Me:  That is a good question.  Do you know who has the answer?

Prodigal:  Who?

Me:  Christ is always the answer to turn too.

 

This comes from the book  The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis

I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary, contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity to-day, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers that threatens us all with destruction, send this whole pack of cards tumbling down.

At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happiness look like broken toys.  Then slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times.  I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to posses my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ.  And perhaps, by God’s grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources.  But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys.

 

Oh Father let me reminder the sweet times of my past trials where you were with me every moment.  Let me remember how the toys of today do not compare with my relationship with you.

 

1 Peter 3:17

For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org