the PURPOSE & PATTERN of PAIN

The pattern of pain has taught me much. Pain comes with a paragon, and if followed closely, leads to appreciation and passion to be used for greater purpose. Straying away from pain however, only brings you closer to shame. And when in shame, we shut down or lash out. Shutting down leads to depression and lashing out leads to guilt projection. Not the purpose of pain whatsoever...at least not in God's economy. Pain therefore, must be acquainted with and caressed in order for the distress to subside and the quality within the pain to rise. It may take time, but if handled correctly, pain always makes sense in time. No pain, no gain. Ask any mother. Ask any athlete.There is a certain pattern that pain brings, and if paralleled and pushed through, then pain can be your guide to gain. Your road map to purpose. It is the very place that must be understood the most in order to be utilized the greatest. Consider Jabez, whose mother named him as such because "she bore him in pain" (I Chronicles 4:9-10). Literally! His name means "one who causes pain or sorrow." Ouch! Just the mention of his name was to be a reminder of his mothers pain. Yet in the midst of this reminder or association to distress, God's grace is seen the best. You see, the Bible declares, "Now Jabez was more honorable than his brethren" (verse 9). How was he considered more honorable? I propose that the pattern of pain led him to being more broken, which in return is what made him more open. And that which made him call out to the Lord. Because pain isn't supposed to close us in, but in fact, it is supposed to get us to call out. "And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested" (I Chronicles 4:9-10).Amazing grace! And that’s the point, when we place our pain into the hands of Jesus, our pain becomes repurposed. It then inspires us to new passions and new progressions. And all rooted by prayer and supplication. Clearly, what’s painful, should make us more prayerful. Thus, I’m following this paragon closely, like tracing a tablet that has preset grooves; and with every stroke along the ridge lines, I know that I’m going down the right path. If I can just stay steady and keep pushing, keep writing, keep running, then I will meet my purpose in this pattern.In fact, you will birth Christ-like character through this process. And when Christ’s character is birthed through your pain, you’ve been detached from the world’s conformity and attached to God’s purpose for your life accordingly.  And as a result, your biggest ministry will be synonymous with your biggest pain.Precisely, pain is the reminder to keep tracing Jesus’ example.  And since He is the Paragon—the model of perfection—it’s crucial to allow His pull to be our push. The pull from heaven is to keep us pushing forward while on earth.  Pain then, is the only reminder that heaven awaits us on the other side of this gulf.The pattern of pain--> pain is the fuel of passion and passion is the fuel of praying. No pain, no gain!