Why It Hurts

I was talking to a guy earlier on today. Someone who had a bad past and basically mucked up his teenage years. But he found God and I believe God is working within him. He questioned about the pain, hurt and barrier which intensified as he decided to walk closer with God. Guilt has been resurfacing from time to time especially in times of weakness.

Let me put the situation in this simple analogy. Imagine there are two boxes, A and B which is 20m from one another. Box A carries the loads of life that we carry with us in this world, including our beings, wealth, worldly desires, etc. Box B represents God. When we become a Christian and embark on the journey to know God, we realize that there are whole lots of stuff that need to be trimmed and cleared. Consciously or unconsciously, we are in the process of realigning ourselves and walking closer to God. Hence the distance between the two boxes gradually decreases. However, the indulgence in the sinful pattern or the temporary excitement one been through will not let the person goes free that easily. As the devils are powerful, they will try all sort of ways to fool and overpower our will and desire. Recall the story of Adam and Eve, we should be informed of how smart the Satan can be in luring us.

Meanwhile, God is pulling our the other hand. We are kind of stuck in between, struggling to break free from either side. One side leads to death, the other leads to freedom. God never let go his hand. We are the one who break lose and fall into the pit. The process of getting closer to God is painful, is not easy. We have to allow God to change so much within us and as we receive new revelations, so much training and it seems like a daunting journey ahead. Many only manage to pull through half way. We have to learn how to set apart ourselves and apply the Truth and the Word of God in our life. It is a long restructuring process which requires perseverance and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. There will be a great wall blocking us. We might find way too much "rules and regulations" that "contradict" to what our old selves possessed.

It hurts because something is bursting out in the deepest part of our soul. There is a new birth of conviction. The Spirit is convicting and correcting us. If there's no struggle as we face the rising walls, it might simply mean the Spirit is not in us and we have never welcomed Jesus into our life.

To change is never easy. The key to victory is the full reliant on our God and through the works of the Spirit. It is not our own strength and might. It requires a partnership. It involves sacrifice. It is painful yet the endurance will lead to eternal freedom and glory. It is worth it!

Is all the we walk through comparable to the endurance of Jesus on his road to Calvary?

In God, we are more than conquerors. Grab hold of the hand and never let it go. Call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

Hebrew 12:2 says "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

After treatment comes healing and wholeness. No treatment is painless and easy. Hold on!