(With apologies to CS Lewis): How Celebrate Recovery Helps You Cope with Pain

Consider it all joy when you encounter trials… (James 1:2)

Different Forms of Pain

 Let’s face it, there’s nothing joyful about pain. Pain comes in many forms; physical, emotional, psychological, social… and in circumstances such as unemployment, breakdown, divorce, loneliness and bereavement. Lewis’ book, The Problem of Pain addresses the question, “How can a loving God allow pain in this world?”

Comparing Pain

That is not what this article is about. It is about the problem of comparing pain. After the painfully tragic death of a child, a young missionary couple had the privilege of addressing a group of Christians when one person spoke of his own ‘problem’ then said, “but that is nothing compared to what you have gone through.” The bereaving father wisely answered, “Any pain – even if it is simply a hangnail – acting as a wake-up call, bringing us to the Father, is worthy of being called painful.”

From Pain to Joy

One of the great advantages of Celebrate Recovery is that it levels the ground. Often we think that our hurt (or hang-up, or habit) isn’t really bad enough to need to go to Celebrate Recovery. However, if you have had a wake-up call, be it through a hang-nail or childhood abuse, and you are struggling to know what to do with the pain; you will find a way to follow that pain into the loving arms of God the Father through the Celebrate Recovery small groups at FCFC. Every hurt; every hang-up no matter how seemingly large or small will be lovingly examined and properly addressed. Together we move out of pain into a joyful life in Christ. For more information, contact the Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader, Bill Alderman bill@fcf.net or 636-456-4748. Every call is confidential. Click here for Faith Christian Family Church “Celebrate Recovery”   Celebrate Recovery is an international program and if you don’t live around Warrenton, MO, USA, you can find a program near you here:  http://www.celebraterecovery.com/  It’s your choice: endless pain or recovery into joy?