Making the Decision

I was recently talking with one of my many doctors about pain and how adults cope with it and he told me an interesting fact. He said that studies are showing that it takes an adult almost 10 years to learn to cope with a chronic condition that produces pain. WOW, 10 years. Now, this is in the physical so it caused me to consider how long it takes an individual to deal with emotional pain.

Studies how shown that upon the loss of a loved one it takes 5 years to have significant recovery for the average person. They say that because all the fads, clothing, styles, smells, cars, etc... cycle through and change within that 5 year period. You don't see the same things anymore - things that cause you pain, things that cause you to think about or remember what you have lost.

Emotions are a funny thing. We are able to control them a whole lot better than we think you know. For instance. You put a 3 year old in timeout, they cry and cry as long as you are watching, but the minute you aren't paying attention, they are picking at the carpet. Or the teen ager who is so tired and can't clean their room, but then a phone call comes in and her bff wants her to go to the mall. What about when your husband asks what is bothering you and you respond with "nothing". He gets up, comes around to the side of the bed and gently wraps those big strong arms around you, the tears begin to flow... Emotions...funny things they are.

In the Bible it talks about taking every thought captive, about being new creatures in Christ, about a transformation that occurs when the living God dwells within us. How about you? Been taking any thoughts captive? Not just sinful thoughts, but discouraging ones, the ones that rob you of having a full and joyful life. What difference is Christ making in you? Are you a new creation - daily? Ouch! Or did your job get the best of you today, or your kids, spouse, best friend, or maybe the pain of life not quite going like you planned.

Pain comes in many shapes and sizes. It takes on forms of deep strong emotions and sometimes just light hearted loses. But it still is painful. How long does it take you to let Jesus heal your pain? How long do you hold on to it for the sake of holding on?

One other quick thought. Only JESUS really heals our hurt. We cannot do it, no matter how hard we try. So gird up. Take those thoughts of discouragement and loss capitive and let the living God who indwells you transform you through your pain into the image of His Son. You can do it - and with Him, in a whole lot less time than the way the world looks at things. Ask Him to HEAL your hurt and pain...He's waiting.