Yep, that’s right…I’ve come to realize that most times,
Love = Pain
Now you might have automatically started thinking about a specific area in which loving is especially painful for you. The reality is, loving others can be painful in every area of life – in marriage, dating relationships, family settings, friendships, and yes, even with strangers.
I am in the final week of my Be Still, Serve and See challenge for the season of Advent…
It hasn’t been too hard for me to find quiet time to be still before the Lord and rest in His presence.
It has been more difficult however, to follow through with creative, special, and intentional ways to serve and love others.
Through this process I have come to realize in my own life that loving others truly is painful!!
Loving others goes against every fiber of our selfish nature!
It means giving up the time, resources, and energy that we would normally use for ourselves, for the sake of others.
In a figurative sense, it means laying down our life for others.
And it is painful…
You know what I’ve also come to find out though?
Every time I have an opportunity to either love others or please myself, my selfish heart whines about the pain…
‘What’s the point?’
‘They don’t deserve it’
‘You need this for yourself’
‘They won’t appreciate it anyway’
‘You’re way too busy’
The list goes on…….
But, every time I choose to override my self-absorbed thinking and decide to lay down my life for the sake of someone else, something changes. My heart becomes softened and strengthened at the same time. The initial effect I anticipated becomes reversed…I always end up having more joy!!
A indescribable joy that makes me want to keep loving again and again!
Loving is sometimes like working out – the pain always hurts – but when you work past it, focus on the bigger picture, and make the decision that the ultimate goal is worth the present pain, you will always reap the rewards!
For me, the rewards of loving others comes:
when I see their smile,
when I experience the joy of giving,
when relationships grow deeper,
when my character is strengthened through the discipline of sacrificing,
and when I can show others a small picture of the love Christ pours on us
…because He ultimately paid the greatest price, endured the greatest pain, and literally (not figuratively!) laid His own life down for those He loves.
So next time my heart whines that loving others is too painful and not worth it, I will say,
‘Yes, love is pain…
but I will do it again!’
Because it is worth it!!!!
