How do I deal with does pain?

I learned something about pain this morning.  Today is my usual cardio day but when I woke and began to move around my right foot had this dull pain.  My 1st thought was that I'd better not run because I don't want to make it worse, right?  My wife even gave me the same advice, but I decided to try to run because I needed the cardio.  Amazingly, as I began to run the pain began to subside, in fact, the more I ran the better my foot felt.  I thought I'd just do half my normal distance but I felt so good that I ended up doing my normal distance run.  So what? Here's what I learned.
     
 1. You can't stop just because it hurts.


     Think about it, if it hurts when you chew, what are you going to do? Stop chewing? No way, you and I, we like to chew.  The pain let's you know that there is a problem in your mouth. You have no intentions of quitting chewing in this lifetime. You see someone who can fix the issue in your mouth, often involving more pain: shots, drilling, $$$.  
     So what happens when it hurts to love, to commit, to attend, to talk about things in our lives?  Many deal with pain by shutting down and quitting, which is totally opposite to what we should be doing.  I don't like pain any better than the next guy, but I'm learning that pain is the way to healing.  Think about this.


2. Do the thing that hurts, and keep doing it or lose it.


     I've watched my son deal with some minor pains he suffered from the sports he's involved in.  One method of healing is to send them to a physical therapist.  I've never had to see one, but from visiting people who do and hearing their stories I've developed this theory. Physical therapist are descendants of the medieval dungeon masters and have learned the ancient torture techniques.  Not really, but their job is to make you move the stuff that hurts.  Injured a knee playing basketball, have the minor surgery and then see the dungeon master where they make you bend it even though IT HURTS.  See they know if movement is not restored then you may never get it back.  Spiritual therapist do the same thing.  They constantly challenge you to confront the pain in your life knowing that true life exists on the other side of your pain.  Have you ever ask yourself, "Why is so hard to ______? Move on, love again, trust again, forgive, risk again, believe again, you choose what applies to you. It can be painful, but your healing is to go through the pain and do it anyway.  


3. No pain, no gain.



...Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Heb. 12:2


Jesus is our example to help us in our faith.  Why do we endure the pain of re-engaging, because of the joy that's waiting on you.  Jesus could never have taken His seat at the Father's side if He wouldn't have endured the pain of the cross.  Pain is necessary in your life to bring you to the place God has for you.  We are going to endure pain, there is no way around it, but the pain is not the end, it's the pathway to the prize.  Whatever is painful in your life today, it's not the end, but it's a path.  Endure the pain of believing again, of forgiving, of loving, of serving again and know that joy is waiting for you on the other side of your pain.