All mankind is ruled by aversion and craving having been born in the flesh. This is directly affected by ones own perception of pain and pleasure. Through ones own knowledge and past experiences, the flesh constantly seeks happiness and avoids suffering in all things in an attempt to find their own perception of happiness. The soul wants to be filled with peace and harmony with God so that we may feel total contentment, yet in the flesh we find other paths, which is sheer delusion.
When a sword is made for battle, if it is cooled too quickly it becomes brittle and can break easily. If however, the metal is cooled slowly, this is called tempering. It becomes extremely strong and can endure any battle. In this very same way God strengthens us through our pain and suffering, preparing ourselves for battle. As we endure through suffering, we are given a choice and we can either turn to God or to something or someone else.
When we look within to the Spirit, and seek out Gods word for ourselves, he will guide our way. All we have to do is have trust and have faith in God alone. Through the suffering we become strong in character, full and complete. We become filled with patience and perseverance preparing us to do more for God and what he will demand of us. In return, God will give us understanding of his will for us and we move away from Self-will to become God willed. By looking within we cast away those elements within our heart that opposes God and bring into our heart Gods knowledge of love, truth, wisdom, forgiveness, patience, and perseverance. What else truly is there?
Then when it is time for one to step forward and do that which God wants of them; he can be full and complete. It is through this pain and suffering that we can choose to grow in the ways God desires for us. If we choose this path of growth we become ready to do for God what he demands of us, when he is ready.
If we deny these unpleasant feelings that come about in our lives, we deny that part of ourselves that brings about the true character God wants us to develop. When we disregard these feelings of intense emotional pain and force them to remain deep within ourselves, they will always surface in some disguised form that will always surface and do far more damage resulting in a much worse kind of pain.
When we turn to anything other than Gods love, His truth, His knowledge, His wisdom, we become lost and we turn this pain inside ourselves into anger and resentments, which divides the flesh from the spirit.
Mathew 6:24
No one can be the slave of two masters; he will either hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot be the slave both of God and money.
What ever we turn to will contradict the Spirit of Gods love, forgiveness, unity, and compassion to others. This will then manifest itself into further anger towards oneself or someone else, and regretfully, directed at those we love many times
In times of deep emotional pain, we seek understanding, justice and peace with the situation. When the pain becomes too much, we begin to question even the existence of God any longer. Understanding is up to God and justice is not of this world, yet the key to all of this is finding peace. This peace can only truly come from God. If someone dies, they will always be missed, or if we loose an arm, this too will always be missed, so the pain will always be there. If we focus on the pain, the pain will only continue keeping this wound from healing. When we focus on God rather than the pain, we begin to accept the loss, and in time move on even though the pain and loss will always be there. In true faith God reveals his intentions and moves us forward in a direction healing our wounds so they can become scars on our hearts. This is a sign of dedication to God and through the Spirit with each and every scar we receive.
