Today Nelson wrestles with the problem of pain. Is there a positive purpose for it?
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October 11, 2022
Annso, Will, and Astrid made it to Germany finally. It sounds like it was an ordeal, but they are on the train right now as I sit at the kitchen table while Mom sleeps in the other room. She’s not an early riser and I’m thankful for that. I like this early time alone.
I’m glad they made it and are able to be there. For me, there is a big vacancy without them here. I see now how much having a family is good for a man, and probably for a woman too.
We like freedom and independence, but we do better and are healthier with a job to do, people to look out for, people who can’t look out for themselves. It’s interesting. We don’t always go for the things that are best for us. In fact, we rarely go after the things that are best for us.
I have terrible back pain these days. I worked on Ralph’s car with him and as I was driving a screw into the fender, something happened in my lower back, a problem area even before I had cancer, but I think something happened or popped.
I have to be careful about stuff like that. I can crack or fracture bones easily, which is new to me. Then it takes 6 weeks for the fracture to heal. It’s a long time and generates persistent pain. I am reading Hebrews and it talks about discipline which is painful, but I’m not really sure if that’s what this is.
Can I say that my whole cancer debacle is the discipline of God? Can we say anything unpleasant that comes our way is the discipline of God? I don’t really know.
In the text, it talks about resisting sin to the point of shedding blood, saying that we have not resisted to that point. But is fighting cancer resisting sin? I suppose you could make an argument that it is. There is always the temptation to run from it, to disown God and give up. There is always the temptation toward self-pity, “Why me?” and all that. I suppose that is all sin.
I am resisting that stuff most of the time, “… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2)
“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (12:4-6)
“God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (12:8-11)
So can I apply this to the pain I feel in my back right now? Is this the discipline of God? It’s not really a struggle against the persecution of sinners. But it can be the temptation to sin in certain ways.
Can I look at it that God is refining me? Were the things that happened to Job discipline? Or were they just something else he was asked to endure? Is it over-spiritualizing to think of physical pain as the discipline of God? Is it proper to think of anything hard as the discipline of God? Or do we need to translate it more directly, that it has to be opposition from sinners like Jesus dealt with? Who knows.
If that’s the case, then is it cowardly to take pain medication? lol. So many theoretical questions to get the waters all muddied up with. Oh well, I’m sure there is a lesson to learn somewhere in all this anyway.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness…”
Seems like it.
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“Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord.” (Psalm 94:12)