How to Respond to Earthly Pain

Dear reader,

Back in February OF 2022, I experienced the deepest feeling of pain in my life. 

It was odd. 

I’d experienced it before, but not knowing what it was I shrugged it off after it went away after a day. 

This time I decided to get it checked out. 

Turns out my appendix wanted to stop working. 

The ER sent me to the surgeon. 

The surgeon cut me open and took out my failing organ. 

They sent me on my way saying “Get well soon.” 

What an odd day. 

Not how I thought I would spend it if I’m honest. 

What resulted in what I thought would be an easy day at work, ended with surgery and me laying down to sleep on our big comfy couch. 

I was to recover the rest of that week, but the pain grew and diminished depending on the position of my body. I didn’t want to do much. 

It hurt to poop, bend, and especially sneeze. 

So I lay there not wanting to do anything except escape the present pain. 

So I did what any logical Gen Z adult would do. I watched a lot of movies and played a lot of video games. It focused me on anything that wasn’t the wincing pain within me. So I thought I’d do it. 

I learned quite fast that you get bored very easily by doing nothing. Even if there is an image in front of your eyes constantly moving for your enjoyment and enticement. 

After the second day,

I wanted to do things and be productive. 

Yet the pain had other ideas. 

‘Lay down and don’t move.’ 

I don’t like pain. So I laid down and didn’t move. 

That week went by quite slowly. But you know one thing I didn’t do even once?

I never opened my bible. 

I had all that time on my hands and never once opened scripture to be encouraged and challenged in my trial. I knew God was near me, I had been praying a little throughout the week, especially for peace during the surgery. It’s so interesting that your focus changes when pain enters your life. 

When we get a cut we are quick to place a bandaid on it. 

When we run out of milk we are quick to replace it. 

But when we need God the most we normally turn to what can’t help us. 

I turned to Paper Mario. 

I turned to Musicals. 

I turned to anything but God. 

I was extremely convicted on this Sunday night after my surgery. So I just sat with God, I cried, I thanked Him for not leaving me alone, and I just wanted to be near Him. 

He gave me peace and comfort in my pain. 

His voice was like a Father telling me exactly what I needed to hear. 

My doubts and fears were all quenched in His presence. 

The God of all things was near. 

I look back on that trial and think of how much time I wasted. I can’t change it now, and I’ve already received grace and mercy from my constant negligence of God’s presence. 

But I will say this, I don’t ever want to forget God, when it’s clear the one thing I need is to be with Him.  

Sincerely Your fellow Appendix-less friend,

-Mitchell