A painful process that we all need to embrace (PART 2)
When exploring aspects of transformation, we realise that this is about change in our ‘becoming’ which is a continuous developmental process in the various dimensions of our being.
We come to the place of recognizing that change is not always an event or an easy to go process but it often has the tendency of pruning some elements in us that may be considered an obstruction to our maturation. But while transformation is a huge subject that can be handled from various vantage views, I am intrigued to look at the spiritual dimension for ‘we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 28:8).
This means that in all issues of life, there is always a perspective that comes to change the other for our beneficiation for we are told in all things meaning that in the good and the bad, a flip sided perspective is holding our good. This reminds me that when we look or touch an elephant, depending on where you are holding, you may be holding the task, the big flipping ear, the rough end of its foot and so forth but surely you have a perspective of that elephant but it is only from your side. So it is the other side of life that you may not be holding that could be holding something good for you or equally the very place where you stand which could be painful may actually flip to show you the good and wonderful side of it.
In all things working together for our good, I want to look at pain as one of those experiences that many of us dread dealing with but contain some good as experienced from diverse angles. You can really ask, where can we really expect any good out of our pains and what could the nature of that good be if the source is painful? Let us explore spiritual pain that many have not allowed ourselves to deal with as we are more accustomed to physical and emotional pain and may be more identifiable as we process our healing. Spiritual pain could generally relate to the pain and suffering that many people struggle with as we navigate the terrain of human life and it centres often on issues that are very abstract and confusing hence we need the spirit of discernment as we open the conversation around it.
Spiritual pain can occur especially when dealing with issues of life and death, unforgiveness, searching for purpose and destiny as well as the connections we have with self and others.
Many people struggle with defining or constructing meaning around certain issues of life and if the meaning we need remains stuck in the hidden side of our spiritual optic lens or is just not visible to our discernment ability, then we may struggle with spiritual pain.
Sometimes we battle not just with meaning of life but also with being able to forgive and let go of people that have hurt us and this has the ability to inject spiritual pain in our lives. Being unable to forgive sometimes legitimises our hurt and pain but clearly it is spiritual pain for it is the one who refuses or is unable to forgive who suffers the most. Anger, bitterness, anxiety and depression are related feelings and come with an angst that is aligned with unforgiveness. It is therefore in our relationships and in the meanings that we are socially constructing that we need to find purpose and meaning in our spiritual pain.
Our hopes and even lack of it can also throw us into states of future orientation that comes with hopefulness or helplessness. Holding on to hope and digging deep into our purpose and intention in life is yet another place for our spiritual pain or healing.
We are therefore continually being urged to ‘offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Godthis is our true and proper worship. Moreover, we are admonished not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will isHis good, pleasing and perfect will’ (Romans 12:1-2).