Hold still, it's going to hurt just a little

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"Hold still, it's going to hurt just a little," the nurse tells me while the needle tears a hole through my skin and buries itself deep into the muscle of my shoulder. Ok, maybe "tears itself" is a little dramatic. This is my annual flu shot routine at work, and I've done this many times before. My head always turned away because it would be a shame for a man my size to watch what's going on and pass out. Plus, how many medical professionals and co-workers would it take to pick me up off the floor? Wait, don't answer that.
Even at 37 years old, I hate needles. Hate them. They hurt. As a kid I would pepper my mom with questions every time we went to visit Dr. Clary, our hometown Pediatrician. "Am I getting a shot today?" "Are there going to be shots?" "I'm just here to get my ears looked at, no need for a silly shot, right Mom?" As if some how knowing pain was coming, would make it hurt less? I dunno, I guess it's a control thing.
What kept me from jumping from the moving car and running away on the trip to see Dr. Clary was: a tight seatbelt, the unimaginable repercussions of my mom finally catching up to me, and the really cool fish tank in the waiting room. The last one is really neither here nor there, but there was something quite mesmerizing and peaceful about watching those little fish swim around in that big tank. Fish don't get shots, those lucky little things.
As an adult, that now sends my three kids to the doctor to get shots, I understand shots are not meant to torment kids and cause them anxiety, they are meant to keep them healthy and prevent illness. So in that sense, shots help us even when they hurt us. It's a necessary evil, if you will.
Believers and non believers alike often tackle the question of "why do bad things happen in life?" If we serve a loving God, why do we hurt? Why do we have troubles? That is a question I've been asked many times by many people and a question frankly, I've asked God many times myself through gritted teeth and tear-filled eyes. Here's my perhaps strange answer to all of the above...I think it's good for us. A necessary evil, if you will.
We want control, and we've come to think that our lives should be easy. That life should always be good and happy, and most importantly pain free. We set screensavers of carefree beach scenes on our computers and day dream of such an existence. We think that life is all about our plans and what we want to happen. We think we shouldn't have to endure trials and hardships, but that's not life. That's not God's will. As a high school football coach reminded me one particularly hot and humid day during a two a day summer practice, “This ain’t Burger King, Moore! You can’t have it your way!”
Pain and hurt draw us to each other. It forces fellowship. It mandates love, concern, compassion, and comfort for one another. It causes personal growth. It reminds us of our place in this world. It reminds us we need our Heavenly Father. We know from scripture that the Lord has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. We also know however that Jesus teaches in John, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Jesus tells us, you can count on it, you will have trouble. You will. Without fail, trouble will befall you, but it's not meant to punish and it's not meant to harm. If you are enduring trouble right now, you know. If you aren't, it's coming, it's inevitable. That seems dark and depressing and that's the bad news. Here's the great part, Jesus offers perspective. Jesus provides peace. His peace and comfort surpass all understanding. Jesus has already overcome this world. Seek Him and find peace. He knows what is best for us. This life is an amazing thing, but hold still, it's going to hurt just a little.
Much Love, Adam

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