Chronic pain is a temporary, unwanted intruder in many of our lives. Some of us know what chronic pain is and what a nightmare it can be! Even though we know what pain feels like, the definition of pain can set us free from its veil of fear and darkness. From the online Encarta Dictionary comes this definition of pain: "unpleasant physical sensation: the acutely unpleasant physical discomfort experienced by somebody who is violently struck, injured, or ill in certain ways, feeling of discomfort: a sensation of pain in a particular part of the body or emotional distress: severe emotional or mental distress." I found these definitions helpful but sought my Bible for a better understanding of pain.

What better way to understand pain than the book of Job! Job suffered many trials and tribulations of pain. Here was a man that while he was suffering, his friends and his wife mocked and ridiculed him. Job's wife advised him vehemently to abandon God and die! Job not only suffered physical atrocities, but lost his prosperous life, and was abandoned by everyone. What is wonderful about Job is how, despite losing everything, he held fast to his faith. He continued to pray and believe in God. "I know that my redeemer liveth." Job 19:25. Because of his loyalty to God, he was healed and given double of what he lost: "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10.) (Interesting to note that Job was set completely free when he "prayed for his friends.")

It was a debilitating experience of pain that brought me to the wise book of Job. It was 1988 and I was getting a load of trash ready to take out. We had just moved into a new apartment and there were some heavy items to be rid of. I must have overloaded the bag because when I lifted it; I felt a sharp pull in my neck and then pain. Several hours later I began to feel excruciating pain in my neck, head and left arm. The pain was so bad that I had to sit down. Later, the pain was so intense that I made an appointment to see the doctor. He prescribed some medication, a neck brace and advice:" take it easy."

Taking it easy was a "no brainer." I couldn't do anything! I couldn't sleep, eat, read, watch TV…nothing! I took the medication, sat in a recliner most of the day and tried to relax. This excruciating pain went on for weeks and my body became run down, and weak. It wasn't long before I became depressed. Two weeks later I went for a follow-up appointment with my physician and told him about my depression. He listened to my concerns and then gave me some anti-depression medication. He said that depression often followed severe pain and that the best thing to do was to stay calm and relax. He said that getting nervous would only aggravate the pain and elevate depression. He was right but it was hard advice to follow. I wanted relief!

Then, I did what I should have done in the beginning! I began praying, morning, noon and night. I began to feel relief but it wasn't enough. I cried out, "God, I need to be healed and healed now! I cannot stand this pain anymore! I've been patient and I've prayed but I feel you've forgotten me! Please help me! (It was in my desperation to be free from pain that I held God accountable to His promises of healing and hope.)

Freedom from pain didn't come instantly but in the course of several hours the pain eased up! Within a day's time I was able to enjoy TV, read and do simple chores. The following day I took off my neck brace. After weeks of little sleep, I was now able to sleep through the night without my uncomfortable neck brace. That first night of peaceful sleep was joyful!

Such passages from Psalms 34: 19, Psalm 91: 15-16, and Psalm 107:28 reveal how much our Lord loves us. I particularly love Psalm 91: 15-16: "He shall call upon me, and I will answer Him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."

Chronic pain not only causes physical problems but can sometimes bring on mental illness. When mental illness occurs, it is wise to seek help from a mental health physician. Just talking with someone who cares and knows about your situation, can help tremendously toward the healing process.

(Did you know that O.C.D. sometimes follows chronic pain?)

From Online Web Page, The Nemours Foundation, under "Teens Health" comes an article: "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." OCD is described here as: "an anxiety disorder that causes the brain to get stuck on a thought or urge or to behave in a repetitive way." The article goes on to say 'Teens with OCD feel they don't have control over their thoughts or fears and it may cause them to think about them repeatedly." Like teens, we adults can sometimes become obsessive, when enduring or coming out of chronic pain. Obsessive thoughts can slow down the healing and cause unnecessary anxiety. Sometimes after the chronic pain is gone a person will shut down and do only what is necessary, shutting out all activities, mental and physical with friends and family. This obsessiveness, if left unchecked, can be more debilitating than the pain!

So, the next time pain or suffering comes your way, do as Job did, hold fast to your faith, seek and if necessary, demand relief from the Redeemer. He will hear you because He loves you!

References:

1. Bible KJV for passages: Job 19:25, Job 42:10 Psalm 34:19, Psalms 91: 15-16

and Psalm 107: 28

2. Online Encarta Dictionary for pain, Retrieved July 28, 2003

3. Online Web Page, The Nemours Foundation, "Teens Health" article: "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." www.nemours.org Retrieved July 28, 2003

Copyright Toni Star 2007