The nurse asked me how I would rate my ear pain on a scale from 1 to 10. I hesitated. It hurt badly enough to keep me up at night, but I’m sure it didn’t hurt as much plenty of other ailments and injuries people have experienced.
I settled on my answer: 7.
When the nurse practitioner looked in my left ear, she could barely get the tool in to see the ear infection I knew was there. Turns out there were two infections right there together. It was my FIFTH EAR INFECTION in eight months.
Maybe that justifies my 7 on the pain scale.
Maybe not.
Maybe it doesn’t matter.
Pain is pain. My ear hurt and I was thrilled to have relief coming.
And, really, isn’t that the hope when we hurt? We long for relief. We hope for change.
Maybe you haven’t had an ear infection lately. But I’m guessing you’ve experienced some kind of pain recently. Relationships become strained. Accidents happen. Grief lingers. Expectations are dashed. The past can haunt.
Whatever your pain is, I do believe relief can come.
Actually, I believe relief has come.
Isn’t that what this season of Advent is about? We are celebrating Jesus coming as a baby in a manager so He could be the savior of the world while we are anticipating His second coming, which will bring eternal relief from pain.
Jesus brings hope & relief for our pain.
I know, holidays can be hard because grief can rise up amidst the twinkling lights. Pain doesn’t live by the calendar. Sometimes joy and sadness are so intertwined they can’t be separated.
And let me preach to myself for a moment: Pain is pain. Let’s not compare whatever hardship we’re experiencing now to something we’ve walked through before or a part of someone else’s story. Comparison in any area of life is a thief. With pain, we don’t need comparison to steal our relief or the redemption God has coming.
Okay, so maybe redemption isn’t part of my ear infection story. But that day in the doctor’s office I thought about the emotional and spiritual pains I’d experienced. I do believe with my whole heart God has used those times to write a much bigger story full of hope. And that’s where I want to rest when I hurt.
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I like the way you wrote this. I’ve walked through pain-level 10…heartpain. xo
Thank you, Susan! Heart pain hurts, that’s for sure!
I like this. The relief always comes but it’s hard to realize in the midst of the pain. God is so very faithful!
Thank you for the link up Kristin.
Patti
Yes, so faithful, thankfully! Thanks for being here, Patti!
Such a good reminder not to compare our pain with another’s. It’s easy to think ours is small in comparison, or that they couldn’t possibly understand because ours is so big, but pain hurts. Period. So grateful for grace and redemption! (And that you have some relief from your pain!)
I too am grateful for grace and redemption. And I’m glad you’re here faithfully, Becky!
Wonderful encouragement –> May we rest in His hope when we hurt for He IS hope. And such a good reminder to not compare hurt & pain but be filled with compassion for others.
That compassion is part of what God’s teaching me these days. I’m always glad you’re here, Joanne!
God’s constant love and faithfulness take the edge of the deepest pain.
Yes, that’s a good sentence right there. I’m glad you’re here, Debbie!
Ouch I hope you get some relief soon. My own son is battling this and we are taking back to the doc today. Thanks for sharing the right perspective here. I pray you have a blessed season and Christmas!
Thankfully, the ear infection was several weeks ago, and I’m feeling good right now! 🙂 Thank you, Meghan!
“Relief HAS come.” Yes! Advent wrapped up in a nutshell. 😉
Love it Kristin!
Thanks, Rachel!
pain is pain – you’re right about that. and we have it til Glory – that’s setting our minds on things above – but I forget that “setting” when in pain! Lord have mercy on us all (oh, that’s right He did – Christmas, then Easter.)
Yes, and amen! Thanks, Sue!
Glad you got relief — and thanks for making a parable of your pain to bring hope to readers who are suffering from hurts that can’t be healed by antibiotics.
There are all kinds of hurts in this world, and when I had that brief physical hurt I spent some time thinking about all of this. Thanks for being here, Michele!
I’ve had ear infections as an adult (but not the past three years, knock on wood), and I know how painful they can be. It’s always hard to guess a number for our pain: if we go too low, they may not take us seriously, but if too high, they might think we’re wimps. ha. Hope you have full relief soon!
Yes, that’s so true about the association with the number we assign. Thankfully, I’m feeling good. This ear infection was several weeks ago, but during it I had these thoughts, which also came back to mind with the Christmas season. Thanks for being here, Lisa!