But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16)
“No human experience is more compelling than that of intense pain.”
“Pain is among the most important signals our body gives to help us survive.”
“To grab your attention that something needs to change. Pain is protecting you, letting you know you are still alive for a start and that even though something isn’t right there is an opportunity to do the right thing.”
“Pain evokes numerous states of consciousness. Magnificent and unyielding, it can lead to great awakenings. It can follow us throughout our lives, as if having a consciousness of its own.”
“Pain has the capacity to almost grasp us by our throats, whispering softly and firmly to bring our entire awareness to it, while our minds wish to be liberated from its confinement.”
“However, there can be a sacredness in such discomfort. It pulls us from our very highs back into the reality of humanity and suffering.”
“The link between pleasure and pain is deeply rooted in our biology. For a start, all pain causes the central nervous system to release endorphins – proteins which act to block pain and work in a similar way to opiates such as morphine to induce feelings of euphoria.”
“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.”-Friedrich Nietzsche
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16)
“If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.” (2 Cor. 11:30-31)
Spurgeon on given to me – “He says, ‘There was given to me.’ He reckoned his great trial to be a gift. It is well put. He does not say, ‘There was inflicted upon me a thorn in the flesh,’ but ‘There was given to me.’ ”
Paul reckoned his great trial to be a gift. It is well-put. He does not say, “There was inflicted on me a thorn in the flesh,” but “There was given to me.”
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)