I recently made a statement about a “Pain-filled life” and was immediately asked, “What are you talking about?”  As I explained in some detail to the individual I was speaking to, it was like a light came on inside their head, and they realized that there was hope for their hopelessness.  It was a refreshing experience.

What I mean by “Pain Filled Life” is the kind of pain that expresses itself in the emotions, the mind, and the heart.  It is pain that is rooted in an event or an action by you or someone else.  There is a pain that comes from the wounds of others by their words and actions.

Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” NASB

This is a challenging passage for many.  Wounds are wounds, whether from a friend or an enemy.  Yet it has been my experience that when a friend hurts us, the agony is more intense than the wounds of a known adversary.  David expressed this pain in Psalm 41:9 – “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.” NLT

Then, in Psalm 55:12-14 – “It is not an enemy who taunts me — I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me — I could have hidden from them.  13 Instead, it is you — my equal, my companion and close friend. 14 What good fellowship we enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” NLT

We expect an enemy or someone who is adversarial against us to attempt to inflict wounds but not our friends.  The weight of this disappointment brings heavy grief.  It shatters our sense of loyalty.  Our friend, a trusted companion, has unleashed these scathing barbs of accusation, and we are crushed. 

To wound is to injure, hurt, damage, impair, offend, or upset.  A wound is something that brings harm.  It is to damage in some fashion.  There is a measure of bruising to our ego or damage to our reputation. 

• Our integrity may be called into question, causing others to question our honesty or sincerity. 
• Our relationship may be strained severely or dissolved altogether. 

A wound is something that brings pain.  We are not speaking of physical wounds but emotional, mental, or spiritual wounds.  One significant danger in disagreements, whether inside or outside the church, is succumbing to a spirit of bitterness. 

What is bitterness?  It can be described with words such as resentment, anger, animosity, hostility, ill will, bad blood, lousy feelings, loathing, hatred, resentment, or antagonism.  It incorporates all of those but is a seething cauldron of animosity.  It is often coupled with an intense desire for revenge or so-called justice.  Not God’s justice but our brand. 

The account of John of Jesus coming to the lame man at the pool of Bethesda is an appropriate illustration for us to consider.  Look at the account:

John 5:2-9 – “Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [ waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”  7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”  9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.” NASB

We look at this event as observers, not as active participants.  Jesus asked this man who, deep inside, had resigned himself to being a cripple for the rest of his life.  After all, thirty-eight years is a long time for any condition to exist without the hope or much hope of a cure. 

Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  WHAT?  Lord, this man is at the pool and has been there virtually every day for thirty-eight years; of course, he wants to get well.

The question of Jesus is penetrating.  It is designed to reveal faith or the absence thereof.  It is not asked to be mean or callous but to cause the man to shift his focus from his condition or present state to the state or condition of wellness or wholeness.  The man’s response is very revealing.  He does not answer the question.  He called attention to his condition and rapidly moved toward a “Woe Is Me” attitude.  Jesus, in His great mercy and compassion, did not wait for the man to continue; he healed him.

Sadly, many who are locked in their “Prison of Pain” fail to hear or focus on the question of the Holy Spirit regarding their situation.  The Holy Spirit is constantly asking, “Do you want to be free and get well?”  When conviction strikes our hearts, we tend to do as this man and Pharaoh with the frogs in Egypt.  We want to wait one more night or justify why we are harboring the grudge, holding on to the pain, and refusing to release it to God.  Oh, that we would hear and heed the voice of our compassionate Lord and Release the Pain into His hands.

One final passage helps to bring my point home:

Matthew 18:21-35 – “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  25 “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  26 “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’  27 “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.  28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  29 “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’  30 “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.  31 “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.  32 “Then summoning him, his lord said, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  33′ Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’  34 “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  35 ” My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” NASB

Consider what the Lord has forgiven you and realize you can never afford to allow a wound or offense to live in your hearts.  If you want to leave your Prison of Pain, you must release the offense to the Lord.  I urge you not to wait another moment but to immediately take it to the Cross and roll it onto the Lord!  He will release you from Prison and enable you to walk into the fullness of life and freedom.

May God be with you as you go through your day in Him!