When Paul was suffering physically, the Lord reminded him that His grace was sufficient. That can be difficult to hear when one is persevering through difficulty, especially when it is excruciating or chronic. However, His grace is sufficient, and, with regard to physical pain, He dispenses grace in several ways: miracles, strength to endure, care from others, and medical remedies. All of these, when asked for and/or are used in the right context are God glorifying and spiritually edifying. However, our primary response must always be to beseech the Lord by acknowledging that He is the Great Physician who will move as He wills.
1) God works the miraculous in healing the sick or fixing the lame. God welcomes this request, yet God is not a genie as some make Him out to be in the health and wealth gospel. He surely moves in other ways and for different reasons as well.
2) When medical care is absent and/or healing is not imminent, if we ask the Lord for strength to endure, He will grant it to us. There have been countless times when all I could do is cry out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and He has granted strength time and time again.
3) Others are given an opportunity to show love and compassion in service when they assist the sick or afflicted. God uses this to grow a community's love for each other, whether a small family or the local Church.
4) God has provided wisdom and insight into medical remedies whether that be surgery, medication, adjustments, herbs & teas, splints, casts, stitches, etc. These not only alleviate the pain, but they may also fix the problem long-term. Remember, Paul specifically advised Timothy to take some wine for his stomach, so such remedies are not prohibited.
Physical pain is used to build our faith and trust in the Lord, whether going through the pain or assisting others in theirs. Ultimately, this reminds us as believers that our hope lies in the future when we will be in the presence of the Lord free of all pain and any threat of it forever! Amen!
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