When we find ourselves in the valleys of life, we understandably seek escape. But we often seek the wrong way out. We are like cartoon culprits who set a trap intended for someone else, only to have it ensnare us.
Some pain is simply not avoidable. It can only be dealt with through time and trust. But a key strategy in dealing with pain is to avoid creating additional pain.
When we take aim at whatever caused us hurt, we create more pain, unnecessary pain. We blame. We negotiate with God, hoping for a favorable transaction. Whether it be God or a person or “the world”. The “punishment” is an effort to control. But the reality is that we pass pain to others, creating a chain reaction that perpetuates pain. The chain reaction inevitably comes back to us.
It’s easy to get caught in the cycle of pain. We may not be aware. Yet to participate, to become a part of it, is a choice just the same.
When pain comes into our lives, we can make an honest assessment and choose a true perspective. That creates a path of choice to stop avoidable pain.
A perspective of pain that passes it to others can be replaced with a true perspective, and turn suffering from a burden into an investment.
“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.”
– Proverbs 26:27