It’s easy to gloss over that pain is subjective. We can’t truly feel another’s. And this isn’t a small matter. In fact it is difficult to appreciate how others think and feel on the subject pain compared to ourselves. Might this be a source of many unnecessary conflicts people get themselves into? It boils down to this frustrating question. “Why can’t they understand the pain I’m in?”
If we are stoic, we expect others to suck it up and handle their pain as well as we do ours. If we are sensitive, or if the amount of pain we are living with is indescribably bad, then we can be quick to be irritated and blame others for being so insensitive to our suffering. Even if it sounds nice to imagine that someone else’s sympathy might in some way reduce our discomfort, the fact of the matter is they really have no good way of relating. Our pain in us does not transfer to them, just our attitude.
The greater your pain, and it does not matter what kind it is – physical, emotional, or spiritual, the longer it will take to recover. Also it may mean that recovery will require more elements coming together. You may need a medication. You may need a friend. You may need a family of friends. You may need all of this and more. Every component of pain recovery is important, but the most important one will be found in connecting with God at your still point.
When we intentionally become quiet and still we open ourselves up to receive something no other human being is equipped to give us. It is usually not instant, but ultimately it is the deepest, most lasting source of healing possible. This is because it comes with a more profound experience of God’s love compared to times when we are on easy street. If this doesn’t make much sense right now then just give it time. Eventually the fog of pain will clear.