No Pain, No Gain

"No pain, no gain."

We live in a very pain-aversive society. Everyone wants to be successful, but at little cost as possible. Affluence and upward mobility is signified by how much of a convenient lifestyle one can afford. Even though there's nothing wrong with experiencing some of the comforts and amenities of life, a lifestyle of ease and comfort is not the will of God. 

God has called us to a lifestyle of self-denial. Jesus has called us to be His disciples and to bear our cross (Matthew 16). However, even though God has made it clear what He's looking for out of His saints, many Christians are seeking the "path of least resistance". When we begin to encounter opposition and resistance we begin to cry out like Jesus, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me" (Matthew 27). A lot of us go through this experience because we have yet to realize the truth of "no pain, no gain".

In the Book of James, the Scripture admonishes us to "be afflicted and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness" (James 4). This goes against the idea that God just wants us to "be happy." Yes, the Father wants us to enjoy life, but there comes a time in our development where He Divinely sponsors our going through adverse circumstances. He wants us to cry, he wants us to mourn, He wants us to be afflicted. Why? Because no pain, no gain. This Christian journey is about being conformed to the Image of Christ (Romans 8). The Bible says that Christ learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5). There are some lessons that the Father will teach us that can only be learned in the classroom of trial and suffering.

Paul said in the 12th chapter of 2 Corinthians that he gloried and took pleasure in his infirmities. To the natural mind, this sounds crazy. But to the spiritual mind it should not. Paul goes on to elaborate that when God has him enduring infirmities, that's when the power of Christ is resting upon him. 

Saints, if we want to experience the power of God, we must be willing to submit to the infirmities and struggles that are sponsored by God. Let me say it again. If we want to experience the power of God, we must be willing to submit to the infirmities and struggles sponsored by God. Remember, Jesus' crucifixion may have been carried out by man and satanically inspired, but it was Divinely Designed before the foundation of the world (Acts 2). The Scripture says that it pleased the Father to bruise the Son (Isaiah 53). Jesus only died because God wanted Him to. And rest assured saints, whatever struggles, trials, persecutions, hardships, heartaches, heartbreaks, suffering, struggles, etc. that you're going through, it's all divinely allowed (Romans 8). 

So, quit complaining and whining and wimpering; look for the power! Look for the edification and the spiritual education that God has hidden in the midst of your pain and in the midst of your struggles. If you understand that it's all working for your good and that God is allowing this trial to test you and develop you, then you'll submit to the wisdom of the saying, "no pain, no gain."