Pain and Courage

Photo from www.wellandgood.com

So the last six weeks have been difficult because I’ve been sidelined by an injury.  I am unable to run due to plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is an injury to your foot typically caused by excessive tension of the plantar fascia, a band of connective tissue on the bottom of the foot. Repeated tension of the fascia can cause inflammation.  In other words, pain! 

I was at the peak of my training when the pain got worse.  Just when I started thinking of myself as invincible, I felt very helpless.  For a runner, six weeks of no running feels like forever.  However, I tried not to let it bother me inasmuch as it was affecting my morale. I thought about other people who have more debilitating pain or more permanent injury.  I remember my late wife who lived through the pain of breast cancer for 11 years. She didn’t get cured, but she went through a healing.

I look back at my wife’s life and at other people who went through some pain and suffering, and I reflect on what quality they have that stands out the most.  It’s courage.  It’s that inner strength that we call upon when we are faced with fear and anxiety.  It’s at the heart of your soul that gets you going in the midst of hardship and pain. Courage is having an indomitable faith that healing will take place. We are human beings and we are all subject to pain in our lives, but God created our spirit that transcends our mortal senses.  Courage is our path to healing.  My wife passed away from cancer; but in her last years,  she was able to live her life the fullest and most loving that she can ever be. She may not have been cured of the cancer, but she was completely healed. 

The other day, I decided to test run my condition. I went slowly and didn’t go too far, but I was running.  In a similar way, we all live with some pain be it physical or emotional; but we are called to be courageous and continue moving on.  We may carry the pain as we go; but have faith and bring it up to God in prayer. And live with confidence that He will bring you healing.

"This is my command – be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." – Joshua 1:9

How can I pray for you today? Perhaps an injury, pain, or illness? A emotional hurt? Or an unanswered prayer? Let me pray for you and with you. Post on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/prayingrunner or email me at prayingrunner@gmail.com. You can also post your prayer request on the comments page on this blog.

Praying Through Pain

I have a friend who quit teaching because he doesn't like dealing with difficult students in the classroom.  He said, "I just want want to come to work, to teach, and come home." Then I said, "Then, you really don't want to teach." Having difficult students in a classroom is part of teaching.

Likewise in running, I hear people say that they used to run but quit because their knees hurt too much. But I say that  feeling pain is part of running. When a new stress is exerted, your body fires up the pain sensor in your brain. But your body also actually adapts to the stress, eventually, making you able to withstand the activity.

To improve in running, be ready for pain. Pray not to take away the pain, but pray for strength to get through the pain. Here is a Bible verse, suggested by a runner friend of mine, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13). When pain sets in or the run gets really hard, repeat and ponder on the verse as you keep going. Praying through pain does not only improve your running, it also strengthens you spiritually.

Life has its impending difficulties, too. We face them, feel the pain and hardship, and eventually get through them. Then we find ourselves stronger than before. Let's take it from Bruce Lee, a Legend in Martial Arts, who said, "Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one."

P.S. My caveat:  Please distinguish good pain from bad pain.  What I wrote above is the good kind of pain. Bad pain? Please see a health professional.