When the Pain Won’t End

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”— 2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV

Leroy woke one morning feeling nauseated and sweaty. As he moved to get up, a searing pain shot through his stomach, forcing him to collapse onto the carpet and call out for his wife. Soon after, he was taken to a local hospital where doctors began running a series of tests. Despite their efforts, no one could determine the source of his intense suffering.

Over the next several days, Leroy continued to cry out to God. He prayed fervently for relief, yearning for immediate healing. His local church community added him to their prayer chains, and faithful prayer warriors petitioned God on his behalf. Yet, the pain remained unyielding. As the days passed, Leroy grew weaker and more confused. He struggled to understand why God, whom he knew as the perfect Father, would not simply end his suffering.

On the fifth day, a new doctor arrived and began a thorough examination. After a brief test, the doctor returned with clarity and urgency. He explained that Leroy’s colon had twisted. “The fact that you’re still in pain is a good sign,” the doctor said. “If your intestines had ruptured, the pain would have ceased—but you would have gone into septic shock and died soon after.”

In that moment, Leroy felt an unexpected surge of gratitude. While he had questioned God’s refusal to end the pain, he now understood that God had been acting out of deep mercy and boundless love. The pain that had tormented him was actually preserving his life. God had been sustaining him even when he felt abandoned.

Leroy eventually underwent surgery to correct the twisted colon, and his doctor confidently predicted a full recovery. Through this experience, Leroy came to see pain in a new light—not as punishment or abandonment, but as a part of God’s mysterious and protective grace.

Reflective Prayer: God, I confess that I often don’t understand Your ways or Your plans. When I am faced with pain and suffering, help me to trust in Your perfect character. You are a good Father who loves me fiercely, even when I cannot see Your purpose. Thank You for Your sustaining grace and unfailing love. Give me strength and endurance as I walk through this season of pain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Unique Quotes for Reflection:

1. “Sometimes God doesn’t stop the storm because the storm is keeping you from greater danger.”

2. “Faith isn’t the absence of pain; it’s the presence of trust.”

3. “God’s grace doesn’t always remove the struggle; sometimes it transforms the struggler.”

4. “In moments of deep pain, God’s silence is often His greatest act of protection.”

Blessings, Pastor Stephan