Why do we feel pain?

Wow. That is a very interesting question because there are really two types of pain, aren’t there? There is physical pain like when you hit your thumb with a hammer or when you fall and scrape your knees. And there is an emotional pain, like when your feelings get hurt or you’re sad because something terrible happened. In both cases, “pain” is a signal that the body has been damaged or something is wrong.

Pain is also a signal that tells us to stop what we’re doing or to take another course of action. So, why do we feel pain?

God could have made it so that you never felt pain. He could have made you indestructible, if he wanted. You could have been just like Superman had God chosen to make you that way. But, He gave you this wonderful body that can experience all sorts of feelings, including pain. If He got rid of the ability to feel things physically then life would really stink! Can you imagine not being able to feel a hug? How about not being able to feel what a furry kitten feels like? Or a bowl of jello? Sandpaper? God wanted you to be able to use all of your senses to be able to enjoy all of His creation.

And, because God loves you, He gave you the ability to feel a whole bunch of different emotions. This includes emotional pain. Whether it’s the pain associated with loss, like a friend moving away, or the pain of not getting a part in the play that you really wanted, God let’s you experience those pains too.

But, here’s the deal: pain also serves a useful purpose. Because, when you start feeling pain, God gives you the ability to either stop what you’re doing that’s causing the pain or taking another course of action. Sometimes that course of action may be remembering to trust in Him and to turn to Him for comfort.

Remember, you are created in His image; in fact, you are fearfully and wonderfully made! But, because you are made in His image, you get many of His attributes…including the ability to feel love, happiness, joy, anger, sorrow and pain.