I recently learned something new about the English language, the existence of “contronyms.” That is a word that has two contradictory or opposite meanings. For example, “bolt” means to secure or to flee; “left” means remained or departed. Now, the point I’m making here is not exactly a contronym, but to many of us it sure feels like pain is the opposite of what we want or what we would define as good.
Over the past two years I have learned a difficult truth. Pain is a teacher I’ll never want, but a teacher I need. There has been so much pain in the world, in our country, in our families, in our emotional and physical bodies it has been overwhelming.
Culturally, we are in the habit of taking pain killers, engaging in pain management activities, ignoring or hiding pain, but the cost is too great. While it’s never fun to learn from pain—it’s like the mean teacher everyone tells you to avoid—there is potential in the presence of pain.
Jesus, our greatest teacher asked people about their pain directly as He walked this earth. He did not avoid pain. “Do you wish to get well?” he asked (John 5:6) over and over of people with physical, mental, and spiritual ailments. He asked people to be honest about their pain.
In my own life, I’ve had to get vulnerable with Jesus and myself to heal. Wounds from rejection, loneliness, bad habits, grief, or lack of faith are areas of my own development through pain. Jesus has used pain to teach me things I need to know for this journey of life. Have you made your way to this classroom too? What is Jesus teaching you about your pain today?
~Joy Howard
Christ Fellowship