“It’s estimated that between 26.4 million- 36 million people
abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United
States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid
pain relievers in 2012”
https://www.drugabuse.gov
The definition of pain according to Merriam-Webster, “localized
physical suffering associated with bodily disorder; a basic bodily sensation
induced by a noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized
by physical discomfort; mental or emotional suffering: sadness caused by some
emotion or mental problem”.
Pain can be received or transferred be each of our five
senses: sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. With that, it is inevitable
that we all must experience pain at some points in our lives. As a nurse I care
for patients daily that have pain. As I give multiple doses of narcotics (as
ordered) many patients do not question what I am injecting into their body. All
they know is that what I am giving them will make the pain go away. But I know
if given one dose too many, a person’s respirations can be suppressed to the
point where their body forgets to breathe. In other words, pain medicine can
kill you and we should not be taking them for long periods of time or high
doses. Many people do not even realize that pain medicine does not suppress pain;
the pills’ job is to trick the brain into thinking that pain is gone. Pain
medicine’s job is to mask your pain for a period of time, it doesn’t solve the
problem.
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with, that we may also be glorified
together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” Romans 8:17-18
Jesus, the son of our Lord sacrificed his life for our
second chance at life. He was nailed to a cross, with a crown of thorns set on
his head, and put on public display for the public to treat him as they
pleased. That hurts! Knowing that the people that you came to save are now
ridiculing you and watching you die. That is physical, mental, emotional, ANY
kind of pain that you can possibly think of on a whole new level! While nailed
to the cross he had to endure each neurotransmitter eliciting his pain
receptors. Most of us will never and have never experienced pain even close to
this, and we pump our body full of drugs for much less, with me included. I
have taken a low dose antidepressant for about 6 months for treatment of
chronic tension headaches, and before that I took ibuprofen 800 mg 2-3 times a
day for 6 years. I am now researching holistic pain control so that I will not
be dependent on any medications. I was praying to God one night asking why
these headaches keep coming back. He told me that they would be a blessing to
others. He wants to use so many of us in his army but so many of us are hiding
behind these masks and cannot work to our greatest potential at this point. He
is ready to heal and bless you, so that you can then become a blessing to
others! It’s the end times and we all must be ready, and be ready to take as
many people as we can with us. So it’s time to wake up.
Back to Jesus, we must remember what happened after he
suffered his pain. He overcame it, and was raised from the dead. Pain, whether
it be physical emotional, spiritual or mental is not meant to break you. Pain
exists to make you stronger. Even if the enemy is the cause of the pain, God
wants to turn that suffering into your success. When you are confronted with pain, find its
source and handle it. Pain from a break up? Learn and pray to find your peace
as a single. Don’t let yourself stay down, and then end up dealing with
depression taking regular medications for that. Pain from a sports injury? Don’t
mask it with medicine, and keep playing. Take the necessary measures for
healing and come back even stronger instead of breaking yourself down slowly. The
longer you wait to take care of the source of the problem, the harder it will
be to deal with.
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
I began writing this blog a few weeks ago with the intention
of putting it out after the New Year, but the Holy Spirit guided me to start
this series now. I am currently learning about holistic pain control and am
believing that many of us will be healed and made stronger in the New Year!
This week I would like to challenge anyone dealing with chronic pain to start
praying and fasting in the spirit. Diet is a key ingredient in holistic pain
relief and reducing inflammation in the body, which we will discuss more next
week. But I am not asking you to start off to drastic; fast something simple
that you know is unhealthy whether it is soda, alcohol, sugar, carbs, etc. When
you are feeling tempted during the day speak to God and ask him for his
strength to overcome your temptations. Look up bible verses concerning pain and
temptation. I will also be doing this fast. I love my Coke! And sprite, Dr
Pepper, Mountain Dew…. any soda, so I will be fasting with you and praying for
all of us and everyone dealing with chronic pain. Let’s end this year with a testimony,
that will have a ripple effect that will last all of 2017!
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