No one is exempt from experiencing pain; in fact, our birth is made possible by it—it is part of life. We silence it, we keep it to ourselves, we avoid it, we repress it, and on many occasions, we force ourselves to overcome it. However, pain is not something that simply came to hurt us; it has the potential to generate life. Pain has a purpose, and going through it can be truly useful, as it allows us to process and assimilate those difficult experiences in our lives. Pain is a teacher, and in its lessons, it teaches us to think things through more carefully and make better decisions; it teaches us to value times of calm and to discover our inner strength. 

Pain can be interpreted as a warning signal from our body indicating the need for change, not simply something that's there to stay and cause suffering. It all depends on us, our perspective, and our courage to face what often frightens us.  Pain can be part of our story, perhaps experienced in situations of betrayal, violence, or injustice. Maybe it arrived like a bucket of cold water that froze our soul, and perhaps it has stayed for a long time, and we have grown accustomed to it, assuming that this is how things are meant to be. However, prolonged pain risks transforming into bitterness, resentment, or deep sadness, turning us into a version of ourselves that we are not, wishing that others would experience similar suffering. Yet, we have the capacity to choose what to do with pain and what its influence will be on our lives. We can turn it into a catalyst that propels us to write a new version of ourselves, leading us to resilience and inner strength. We can use it to develop a deeper sensitivity and empathy by identifying with those going through similar circumstances, and far from falling into self-pity, choose to go beyond the pain, learning from the experience, using it for our personal growth.

It's important to understand that there are no easy solutions for healing a broken heart. It's necessary to go through the grieving process, because it's precisely on this journey that we are transformed, letting go of anything that doesn't contribute positively to our lives. Often, avoiding pain leads us to tolerate and endure situations that, in the long run, result in much greater suffering. But understanding that every change and improvement in our lives requires painful effort helps us move forward, to choose to strive to leave the comfort zone that has led us to a passive state of suffering. It's possible that at certain times we won't understand, or won't have answers to the questions that arise about the circumstances surrounding us; however, we can be certain that it is in times of pain that we will discover our strength and the extent of our abilities. Moreover, it is in these times of brokenness that we will experience God's love, which offers us comfort and propels us forward. And this comfort will be a testament to resilience and courage for those who need it. A testament that proclaims having overcome difficulties and having risen again with the inner strength that gives a new beginning, with the conviction that perseverance and acceptance of transformative pain liberate us, give us purpose, and allow us to reach our potential.

Raquel Godoy

Pastor/Educational Psychologist