Not So Scary

Pain. A broken limb, a failing grade, a shattered relationship, or a “Closed on Sundays” sign at the Chick-fil-A drive-thru. Pain can be experienced in a multitude of ways. It’s never fun at the time, and it leaves you longing for one thing, comfort. It is in this cycle that so many people can find themselves trapped. They feel pain, they seek comfort; wash, rinse, repeat. Many begin to program themselves to receive a steady intake of minor comforts throughout the day to mitigate any potential pain that comes their way. Simultaneously they begin to decrease their tolerance for pain, while increasing their need for comfort. The very comforts they pursue begin to fuel the pain they feel in the first place. Alcohol was supposed to relieve the stress from work. Social Media was supposed to alleviate my loneliness. More money was supposed to make the anxiety go away. Why isn’t it working?

The answer does not rest simply in our understanding of which comforts to pursue, but in pain itself. For many people pain flows from a negative perception. It is the thing to be avoided, the enemy, the sign that you are doing something wrong. That is true...if you are categorizing all pain as “bad.” Not all pain is destructive, however. There are variants of pain that produce. The sacrifice of a night on the couch to get on the floor and play with your kids. The ache of muscles after a healthy workout. The discomfort of finally setting the boundary you knew should have been placed months ago. When one begins to discern the type of pain they are experiencing, they then begin to know when and how to apply comfort as needed. Many are missing out on a vastarray of comforts that only come through the endurance of pain. Strong relationships, positive self-image, altruistic generosity. These only come when one is able to implement healthy pain, trusting that true comfort will come later.

Sadly, for many, they are unable to wait for the sustaining comforts of sacrificial harvest. They believe they need instant gratification to salve their wounds. The flaw in that method is that a true harvest only comes after the ground has been plowed. Soil must be tilled and earth must be broken for the seed to take root and produce what it has to offer. Scattering seeds on the surface may cause some to spring up, but not to the degree that planted crop would. The same can be said for the heart. Honest introspection with trusted community must till the soils. Disciplined habits and personal ownership must be planted. Sacrificial love for others must faithfully water the ground. Then, when the season is right, the harvest will be ready and fulfilling. Yes, the plow will cause pain, but as A.W. Towzer once said, “Miracles follow the plow.”