People in Pain
Hi, I’m Joni and when I am in chronic pain this is the hymn I love to sing:
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.*
Like I said, I love singing this hymn whenever I’m in pain or whenever I’m around someone else who struggles with pain. I sing it all the time to myself. I made a commitment long ago that I did not want to defame God or badmouth Him if and when I fall into pain. I made a commitment that I would not speak ill of Him and that I would not become distracted or let my mind wander. And I made this commitment because I do not want to waste my suffering; I do not want to waste my pain. I wanted to win a victory in it and obey Him in some way and thus, have it count for all of eternity. In short, I want to honor and glorify God in my pain. I want to offer Him a sacrifice of praise and, in so doing, make it count, make it last, redeem that pain. After all, the Word of God says that if we suffer with Him—and do so with a godly attitude—if we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him!
Not long ago, I sang this song over someone who struggles with very severe, I mean very difficult pain, you can see it in Jim’s eyes. His mouth trembles when he speaks and his eyes get wide. His skin looks pale and his lips get a little thin and purple. When Jim looks like that, I know he’s experiencing tongue-biting pain, and so I sang to him this song.
And if you are struggling with pain, I sing it for you today, too. Because I want you to join me in not wasting this terrible and difficult test, this trial of your faith. Hang in there, friend if you are dealing with pain. Your earthly trials are achieving for you a weight of glory that can’t even be compared with your present problems. With God’s grace, He will remain faithful and see you through it. And as He does, you will not be wasting the tears, you’ll be gaining a victory in it because you have obeyed Him and trusted Him that He will turn it all out for your good and His glory. When your back is screaming and you feel like you just have to lay down or walk around or do something to relieve your pain, remember Psalm 72, beginning with verse 11, which says, “… [God] will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy, He will rescue them…”
Oh, friend, no one should suffer for nothing, and no one should suffer alone. And so, please remember from this hymn today that you’re not alone because Jesus is your Balm in Gilead.
*Music: “There Is a Balm in Gilead,” an Afro-American spiritual, Public Domain.
**Previously aired as #8087 on 4/30/13.
© Joni and Friends
