It "Hurts" so Good! by Aaron

As a therapist we do a lot of stretching and hands on techniques in the clinic to improve all of our patient’s flexibility for max benefit to increase function including walking, running, jumping just to name a few.  Another thing technique we use in the clinic is massage to loosen up tight tissue and to decrease pain at a specific location of the body.  Most of the time stretching and massage (especially deep tissue massage) can be very painful for a person, depending on how severe the injury or disorder may present.  Though these techniques can be painful, a clinician must constantly remind the patient that each technique is performed for a specific reason, usually to improve mobility and function as mentioned above. 

Most of the time when I stretch out a patient or perform massage, I often hear them say “that really hurts, but it also feels good”.  The phrase that we came up with in the clinic is “it hurts so good!”  When we repeat this phrase to the patient, it just seems to click in their mind.  It seems to ease the patient’s mind as we continue with these techniques, because they know the end result equals improvement.  The patient may have muscle soreness afterward for a day or two, but increased mobility or decreased pain should gradually improve each day. 

As believers, the bible promises that we will all go through some sort of trial and tribulation.  What one person calls a tribulation, the other person may say that is an everyday occur for me.  No matter how big or small the trial, the Lord always has a purpose for this.  God understands that these trials are going to bring you some sort of pain, but He also knows that it will bring good to your life.  If you trust the Lord through these trials, your faith will begin to build gradually.  Just like the soreness after stretching your muscles; you will have difficulty for a certain period of time, but over time that pain will decrease as you overcome the trial as a much stronger person.

In 1 Peter 5:10 it says that “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”  As a believer, do not be afraid of trials. Rejoice, because as it says in 1 Peter, God himself is not only going to restore you, but He will STRENGTHEN you.  The definition of strengthen means to become stronger than before.  I go to the gym two or three days a week because I want to strengthen my legs, arms, back etc.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I want to be stronger with my faith in the Father.  God wants to strengthen His children, so that we can become more like Christ and so we can assist Him with the work He is doing. 

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, it states that “no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”.  This verse should give us as believers some peace as we go through trials and temptations.  First, understand that as you are going through these trials that you are not alone.  God understand what you are going through right now, because as it says in the Word, He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.  You would not even be in that situation if the Father knew you couldn’t handle it.  The best example I can think of in the bible is Joseph.  Joseph went from a beloved son, to becoming a servant, and then gained great favor with Potiphar, then he became a prisoner, lastly he became one of the highest ranked officials in Egypt.  Could you imagine going through what Joseph went through?  If God knew that Joseph would not have been able to handle that situation, Joseph wouldn’t have gone through this.  Joseph however had a great relationship with the Father, and the Father knew that Joseph would endure these trials.  Those trials allowed Joseph to lead Egypt through a very hard time with many years of famine.  Without the things he went through, Joseph wouldn’t have been equipped to do what God put him in the position to do. 

The second thing to pull out of 1 Corinthians 10:13 are that “He will provide the way of escape.”  God has the key to get your out of whatever trial you are going through.  The Lord won’t let you go through anything you can’t handle and has the key to get you out.  When I go through trials and temptations, the first thing that I tend to do is try to figure it out on my own.  I try to fix whatever situation comes my way, when the first thing I need to do is kneel before the Father.  How can God provide the way of escape, if we won’t follow Him through the door?  Maybe you have been dealing with something for many years and can’t seem to get over it.  Draw closer to the Father, because he is holding the door open for you to escape that trial.  He is waiting for you to run into His arms, so that he can carry you the rest of the way to escape your temptations for good. 

There are so many brothers and sisters in Christ that are going through trials and temptations as I write this.  I know that these trials and temptations are very painful physically, emotionally, and mentally.  I pray for all those that are going through these trials that they draw closer to the Lord, because he is holding the key for their escape.  He knows that you WILL overcome this and WILL be a stronger person because of the situation.  I know currently it hurts, but when you overcome the situation think of the good that is coming your way.  Just remember, it hurts so good!  The Lord loves you so much.  

May God bring you Peace!!