Pain Makes You a Philosopher-Psalm 23:1

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

“When pain and suffering come upon us, we finally see not only that we are not in control of our lives but that we never were.”  Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and support for me as I had surgery to replace both my knees on Aug 10, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, my homeland.

From July 9 to Sep 5, 2018 I was away in Malaysia. My bilateral knee replacement surgery was not planned, but after consulting with my experienced Orthopedic surgeon classmate, I decided that it was the best option for me. As a result this became the most eventful 2 month trip I ever made to Malaysia.

The constant symptom after surgery was the pain from the surgery, the sutures, the swelling, the stiffness and from the physical therapy daily. My daily activities was markedly curtailed, reading, studying and just sitting at the table was very difficult, and sleep was near impossible every single night, because there was no comfortable position and the pain felt worse every night than during the day. Thus, I was compelled to think about the “problem of pain” that all human beings experience with no exceptions.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Consider pain. Is it any good? What can you learn from it?
  • What do you think Mr. Google says? Pain makes you …………
  • What do you think of the following quotes:
  • “What punishments of God are not gifts?” J.R.R. Tolkien.
  • “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Heath Ledger, the Joker, The Dark Knight.
  • “Pain makes you stronger. Fear makes you braver. Heartbreak makes you wiser.” Drake.
  • “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
  • “When pain and suffering come upon us, we finally see not only that we are not in control of our lives but that we never were.” Tim Keller.
  • What possible good is having pain? Read:
  • Hebrews 11:7, 11.
  • James 1:2-4.
  • Romans 5:3-5.
  • When in pain, what may be the most effective/efficacious solution?
  • Psalm 1:2.
  • Psalm 119:97.
  • How does God being your shepherd help you through pain and through life’s difficulties?
  • Psalm 23:1.
  • Genesis 48:15.
  • How does pain help you see Christ?
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21.
  • Galatians 3:13.

Some lessons learned:

  • You need a coach/mentor/helper (Prov 27:17).
  • You need to train yourself to improve (1 Tim 4:8).
  • Face your weakness, or you’ll remain weak.
  • Misc: victim, discouragement, perseverance, sin.
  • Your attitude determines your altitude of life (Col 3:1-2; Dt 4:29; Jer 29:13).
  • Relativity: if you’re with a lovely person hours seem like seconds, but if you’re with an unpleasant person seconds feel like hours.

Life Lessons Learned

  1. The Problem–pain. Pain is good (Heb 13:7, 11; Jas 1:2-4; Rom 5:3-5). It exposes/reveals the real me—who I truly am at my core. Don’t waste your pain!
  2. The Solution. Meditating, contemplating God’s word (Ps 1:2; 119:97) is the immediate/efficacious solution.
  3. The Big Picture. God is my shepherd all my life to this day (Gen 48:15).
  4. Pain helps you to see Christ (2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13).

ABCDE of pain

  1. Accept it, not avoid it.
  2. Brace for it, not blur it.
  3. Confront it, not complain about it.
  4. Deal with it, not deny it.
  5. Embrace/encouter/experience it, not just expel or eliminate it (often not possible).

Noteworthy quotes:

“I think that taking life seriously means…that whatever man does…has to be done in the lived truth…of the rumble of panic underneath everything. Otherwise it is false.” Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death.

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” C. S. Lewis.

“When Heaven is going to give a great responsibility to someone, it first makes his mind endure suffering. It makes his sinews and bones experience toil, and his body to suffer hunger. It inflicts him with poverty and knocks down everything he tries to build. In this way Heaven stimulates his mind, stabilizes his temper, and develops his weak points.” Mencius (Chinese, 300 BC).

Earlier powerpoint: Pain Makes You a Philosopher.

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