Pain is good

Yesterday, I participated in what I believe to be the most grueling, physically challenging, and rewarding sport ever created. Volleyball. I seriously LOVE this sport, slamming your body into the floor, letting the ball crash into your forearms, running head on into the wall to keep the play going, I mean…what’s not to love eh? Then tragedy hit…I woke up this morning. I literally could not lift my arms to dry my hair I was in so much pain. Just to take this a little further for you to understand the extent of the agony, when I tried to sit up in bed my abs gave out and I remained laying there on my back wondering if someone had been punching me in the stomach all night as I slept. This got me thinking about how I always, in one way or another, seem to be in pain whether it be from exercise, relationships, or just the stuff life throws at me. What I know to be true in the type of pain I was feeling this morning is that because of the suffering I am enduring the next time I play I will be stronger and play a better game. The same thing goes for the life and relationship struggles, it hurts but I will be better because of it. This, I know, is not rocket science and is about as basic as lessons get but I often forget about the stronger part of the story because I am engrossed in the pain part. As the Lord works in my life it’s going to be difficult and very painful-change and growth hurt. My prayer is that we all can learn to rejoice in our sufferings because if we were not experiencing growing pains that means we aren’t growing, and if we aren't growing we are dying. Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:2-4 (NIV) We all have hope in Christ Jesus. Praise the Lord for sore muscles!