Who likes pain? by Brett Martin
Who likes pain? I think it is safe to say that none of us really enjoy experiencing pain in our lives, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual.
About 9 years ago, I embarked on an amazing adventure and walked across Spain on the famous pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago. I ventured into this experience without any expectation of pain and how it would affect me. What was I thinking? I didn’t plan or prepare for it. And I probably would have had second thoughts about the experience if I would have known how much pain I would be in. Sure, ok I will admit, maybe I didn’t plan and prepare effectively and that would have made my experience different but what I took away from the experience was transformational.
Going into the trip, I already had blisters that I was navigating.
Around the fourth day of walking, the pain was getting so bad that in the first hour or so of walking, I didn’t think I would be able to finish the day. And then momentum just happened. I put one foot in front of the other and before I knew it, the day was almost over, and we had reached our destination for the day.
This routine continued until around day 8, when my friend encouraged me to go to the doctor because she was afraid my feet were getting infected. On day 9, I went to the clinic for an infection in my feet and was given antibiotics. After a day and half of resting, I was able to start my journey again.
I share this experience because God taught me so much about pain and how I needed others on that journey to help me. And because of the incredible pain that I felt and experienced, I grew in deeper empathy and compassion for my fellow pilgrims who were also experiencing pain along our journey. We were able to encourage one another to keep going and to not give up. And around day 30, I finally arrived in Santiago.
I have found that in my journey navigating SSA, there have been some painful things that I didn’t want to face or address, but when I began allowing others and ultimately God into these deep painful areas of my life, that is when I began experiencing healing, hope and freedom. And because I faced my pain and allowed God to heal me, I can now walk alongside others giving them hope and encouragement to not give up and to keep fighting.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Cor.1:3-4
So often we lose so much of what God is trying to teach us because we are focusing on the pain we experience along the way. Our destination and goal seems more important than the value of walking with Jesus on the journey.