Anyone who has ever had to take prescription pain medicine after
surgery has probably heard the expression stay
ahead of the pain. Usually this refers to taking pain medicine on a
schedule, before you need it, in order to keep the pain at a manageable level. If
you wait until you are hurting to take the medicine, the pain may become overwhelming,
and the medicine may be unable to overcome it or take longer to do so.
During Elijah’s recent hospitalization, Kirstie and I have been
reminded of God’s palliatives for the soul: Scripture, prayer, and the worship
of the saints (including the preached word and sacraments). The word of God
sustains us in times of trouble (Psa. 119:71, 92, 114), prayer reminds us our Father
knows and cares (Php. 4:6-7; 1Pet. 5:6-7; 1Jn. 5:14-15), and the worship and
fellowship of the Church reaffirms the Lord’s promises and that we are not
alone in waiting and watching for His return (Psa. 122; 1Cor. 11:26; Heb.
10:19-25). Stress and trouble is always easier to bear when we avail ourselves
of the means of grace. Trials are not easy, but God’s grace makes them bearable
and sanctifying.
It is especially important in seasons of trial to
be diligent in using God’s means of grace to sustain our souls and strengthen
our faith. We can easily be distracted by the urgent concerns troubling our
hearts at such times. Daily Bible reading is certainly less urgent than
physical crisis. Prayer may not seem imminently practical. And so we focus more
on what is pressing than on what is important. We neglect the word and prayer
and the worship of the saints, and we find ourselves increasingly overwhelmed
by the emotional pain of the moment.
We must learn to stay ahead of the pain, to apply
God’s medicine for the soul before
the distress has become urgent, before
our sorrows are so great they obscure the brilliance of God’s glory shining
above and around us. We must discipline ourselves before the trial comes, and even as we walk through the trial, meeting
God in His word, seeking His blessing in prayer, worshiping His holy name and
being reminded of what is true, what is real, what will last, and what will
not. Do not wait until the pain is so great you can no longer focus on
Scripture. Do not wait until you have no words left to pray. Be diligent each
day to feed and nurture your soul using the means God has provided. Stay ahead
of the pain, and watch God use your pain for His good purposes. –JME
