Gabby Gingras was born in a Minnesota hospital in 2001. On the surface, she seemed to be just like any other child, but her parents soon found out that she was born without the ability to feel pain. Only several dozen people in the world have the same condition. The technical term is congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. Some people may think that to not feel pain would be a blessing, but those who have this rare condition, would say differently. The nerves in ones body is designed to help him act, think, and feel. If he accidentally smashes his thumb with a hammer then the nerves in his hand will send a signal to his mind that basically tells him he is hurt and in pain.
It has often been said, “Don't play with fire for you might get burned!” However, what if you don't realize that you are getting burned until it is too late? Sadly, Gabby ruined her mouth by biting and chewing her tongue into and continually breaking her teeth on toys. She felt nothing, so her body was unable to warn her against such dangerous actions. For years, her parents helplessly watched as she would unwillingly mutilate herself. What a tragedy it truly is to feel no pain in life!
Far too often we seek the pleasures of this life, not realizing that pain is a needful teacher for us. For the Christian, it is in times of pain and suffering that he can receive power and strength to endure (2 Corinthians 12:10)! The apostle James urged fellow believers to, “Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience” (James 1:2-3 / AMP). Oh, how we are so prone to doubt and despair during times of hardship! We want never ending sunshine, but we must remember that it takes rain and sunlight to grow a garden.
Again it is written in James' epistle, “When you pray for things, you don't get them because you want them for the wrong reason-for your own pleasure” (James 4:3-GWT). It is sad that we have come to this place, but American Christianity now-a-days is about feeling loved rather than growing in faith! The thrust of worship is not about deep, meaningful study into God's truth, but now about shallow, hypnotic music that gives an emotional high. Preachers have molded their sermons to be like cozy blankets that surround their sleeping congregants rather than cold buckets of water to startle and wake them up!
Christ came to earth as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, so why is it that we expect only good days (Isaiah 53:3)?! You must, “...consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrew 12:3). Be thankful for the pain. It is often the thorn in the flesh that causes us set our eyes back on the grace of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Learn to sing in the storm! Because, you are following the One who not only has power to calm the storm, but can give you the grace to walk on the waters in the midst of it!
Finally, I realize that some bitter souls will argue that since there will be no tears or pain in heaven, it will soon become morose and monotonous. It is true that we need hardships to teach us to be thankful for the good times and enjoy life more fully. But ultimately, in this life--and in the life that is to come—true satisfaction and purpose is found in knowing God! Joy's foundation will not be when all things “go right for us”, but when all things revolve around Him (1 Corinthians 15:28). The “by-product” in heaven is eternal bliss, but the “prime-product” is basking in the splendor of God's presence. In Revelation 21:3-4, John declared, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” What a wonderful promise that God will dwell with us forever! Far greater than the promise of fading tears is experiencing the light of His presence (Revelation 21:23).
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