Second: Obedience eases lots of pain
We, often, rebel on our conditions and refuse the chastening of the Almighty and his dealings with us, so we refuse to accept or to surrender and we might ask God: “Show me why You contend with me.” (Job 10:2)

Obedience does not only protect us from many pains but it also eases lots of them; it has made Paul tolerate his pains and he was able to say: Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. When he obeyed, accepted and surrendered, he then was able to bear the thorn in flesh and said: “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:8,9)

Apostle Paul says: “we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.  Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us” (2 Corinthians 7:5,6)  He did not say: God who comforts believers but said the “downcast”. You might be a believer but you are not comforted. Let me tell you: in order to be comforted, you need to humble yourself and obey. Apostle Peter writes also: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). He did not write: upon the merciful hand of God. For we need to humble ourselves and submit under God’s hand bearing the pains first then He lifts us with His merciful Hand.

Brother, know that the way for healing our pains starts from our acceptance of God’s dealings with us and our recognition of our conditions and of what we are, then we accept the pain that the Lord allowed us according to his will; Let’s put our souls with Him and do not reject to be comforted like the one who said: “My soul refused to be comforted” (Psalm 77:2) but to humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to comfort us.

Magdy Samuel