God’s Purposeful Pain During the Pandemic Period

By Bishop Kevin M. Harrison, Sr.

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s of the writing of this article, there have been approximately 46 million cases of COVID-19 reported. 740,000 deaths and 35,000,000 that have recovered. Thank God for those who are healed!

It would almost be presumptuous to think that the visible church has not been impacted. What is the impact on the visible church? Many of us are still experiencing the residuals of this history-changing plague. Most would agree this period of the pandemic has once again demonstrated the resilience of the invisible church spoken of in Matthew 16:18-19. The Lord’s church is still standing just differently. Parking lot and virtual services that promote unity shows a sharpened focus. Still with all of these adjustments, the memory of the pandemic is still with us. Should the pain be erased?

This has been a season of teachable moments, showing us things are going to happen in our faith walk that will affect growth. There will be struggles and we need help through the painful processes. That is what Jesus does. The process is sometimes painful, but it is a part of our spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is not achieved independently. God’s grace makes all things possible. Satan with all of his devices cannot reverse Calvary. Jesus is our victory through painful processes. Abundant life in Jesus gives us strength because we cast all our cares on Him. Realize that God has a purpose and a plan for your pain. This can be physically proven (2 Cor. 12:7-8).

When you hit your knee against something, nerve impulses travel from your knee to your brain then from your brain to your mouth and “OUCH” of “Jesus” (hopefull) comes out. The purpose of that pain is to make us aware of an injury so as not to repeat it. Physical pain signals that something is wrong.

What about the pain that God allows? Growing pains that God allows are not negative. If God allows them, we must believe that they have purpose. However, purpose does not make it any less painful (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Great speculation by theologians regarding Paul’s thorn have been debated. The mystery regarding Paul’s thorn leads us to the conclusion that that sort of thorn is not important. What is important is God’s reason for the thorn. God allowed it into Paul’s life to keep him humble. Some of the adjustments in the church during this pandemic are that prayer meetings have increased, souls are coming to be saved, and have you noticed some folks are friendlier? There are good things that are happening as a result of the pandemic.

Understanding COVID-19 did not make it any less painful. Knowing the facts behind COVID-19 pandemic gave us a greater awareness, but there was no decrease of the

Understanding COVID-19 did not make it any less painful. Knowing the facts behind the COVID-19 pandemic gave us a greater awareness, but there was no decrease of the impact caused in our lives and the life of the church. Paul calls his “thorn in the flesh” a messenger of Satan. This would indicate that it is a spiritual component to the thorn. There was also a physical component as well, which is why the apostle used the word “buffet.” The words “messenger” and “buffet” signify both spiritual and physical pain. We do know that the pandemic encompasses both the spiritual and physical purpose that God has allowed. (Romans 8:28) Paul writes about the lessons learned from both spiritual and physical pain. He understands to an even greater degree the ability of God’s sustaining power. Paul pronounces that this thorn and the messenger of Satan, was GIVEN to him. What did the apostle mean by stating the messenger (spiritual) and the buffeting (physical) was given to him? That same word “given” is found in Matthew 7:7—“Ask, and it will be given (didomi) to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” The word given in both Scriptures means a gift. The pain we face is a gift from God. That is a hard thing to accept. We just don’t think to define our spiritual or physical discomfort as a gift. When we think of gifts, it is something that makes us feel appreciated and connected to the giver. Right? This gift (didomi) does not make us feel good but, it does give us power to endure. God has a purpose for your pain. Yes, it will still hurt, but the power of Christ is resting upon you! We can rejoice because what comes out of this painful season is purpose. God has a purpose for your pain! The Scripture says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11). While you are going through the painful process, remember there is a completion date. You will be perfect, established, strengthened and settled.

impact caused in our lives and the life of the church. Paul calls his “thorn in the flesh” a messenger of Satan. This would indicate that it is a spiritual component to the thorn. There was also a physical component as well, The thorn in Paul’s flesh was evidence of God’s love and which is why the apostle used the word “buffet.” The care. It is the same with us as believers. Having endured words “messenger” and “buffet” signify both spiritual and being empowered by the Holy Spirit testifies that the and physical pain. We do know that the pandemic Lord loves us. This pandemic season has preserved many encompasses both the spiritual and physical purpose of our lives. Perhaps we were becoming too proud or that God has allowed (Romans 8:28). unmindful of the grace and mercy of God so a memo was sent from heaven. This memo is God saying, “I love you Paul writes about the lessons learned from both spiritual unconditionally and have out loved everything you have and physical pain. He understands to an even greater loved and has loved you so do not forget Me!” Yes, this degree the ability of God’s sustaining power. Paul process has been hurtful and purpose does not make it less pronounces that this thorn and the messenger of Satan, painful. Since we know that the pandemic and all of the was GIVEN to him. What did the apostle mean by stating struggles related to it have been allowed by God, is it sin the messeneger (spiritual) and the buffeting (physical) to ask God to remove it? The answer is this; seeking relief was given to him? That same word “given” is found from a God allowed situation is not wrong or sin. Please in Matthew 7:7 - “Ask, and it will be given (didomi) to reference James 5:16, Luke 18:1-8, 2 Cor. 12:8. You will you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be oened notice when reading these Scriptures that there was no to you.” The word given in both Scriptures means a gift. rebuke to the ones seeking relief. The pain we face is a gift from God. That is a hard thing to accept. We just don’t think to define our spiritual When confronting painful trials and tests, there is nothing or physical discomfort as a gift from God. That is hard wrong with asking God to change them. It is okay to pray thing to accept. When we think of gifts, it is something for our circumstances to change. Just remember that there that makes us feel appreciated and connected to the are three answers to prayer. Yes, No and Wait. giver. Right? This gift (didomi) does not make us feel good but, it does give us power to endure. God has Just trust God no matter which answer you receive. God a purpose for your pain. Yes, it will still hurt, but the has a purpose for our pain and the purpose is to exchange power of Christ is resting upon you! it for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is painful, but you have a purpose and you are anointed! Remember that in We can rejoice because what comes out of this painful the midst of God’s purposeful pain during the pandemic season is purpose. God has a purpose for your pain! season, He will provide grace and strength. 2 Corinthians The Scripture says, “But the God of all grace, who hath 12:9—“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you….’” Paul prayed three times for his thorn to be ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, removed. God’s response was, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.”strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion He gives all the grace we need at exactly the right time and for ever and ever Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11). While you in exactly the right proportion. Our gladness is not for the are going through the painful process, remember there pain, but for the power of Christ that is present in our lives. is a completion date. You will be perfect, established, Be encouraged! COVID-19 has been a painful process that strengthened and settled. has produced a greater anointing in us all. The thorn in Paul’s flesh was evidence of God’s love and care. It is the same with us as believers. Having endured and being empowered by the Holy Spirit testifies that the Lord loves us. This pandemic season has preserved many of our lives. Perhaps we were becoming too proud or unmindful of the grace and mercy of God so a memo was sent from heaven. This memo is God saying, “I love you unconditionally and have out loved everything you have loved, and has loved you so do not forget Me!” Yes, this process has been hurtful and purpose does not make it less painful. Since we know that the pandemic and all of the struggles related to it have been allowed by God, is it sin to ask God to remove it? The answer is this; seeking relief from a God allowed situation is not wrong or sin. Please reference James 5:16, Luke 18:1-8, 2 Cor. 12:8. You will notice when reading these Scriptures that there was no rebuke to ones seeking relief. When confronting painful trials and tests, there is nothing wrong with God to change them. It is okay to pray for our circumstances to change. Just remember that there are three answers to prayer. Yes, No and Wait. Just trust God no matter which answer you receive. God has a purpose for our pain and the purpose is to exchange it for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is painful, but you have a purpose and you are anointed! Remember that in the midst of God’s purposeful pain during the pandemic season, He will provide grace and strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you...” Paul prayed three times for his thorn to be removed. God’s response was, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.” He gives all the grace we need at exactly the right time and in exactly the right proportion. Our gladness is not for the pain, but for the power of Christ that is present in our lives. Be encouraged! COVID-19 has been a painful process that has produced a greater anointing in us all.