When Your Pain Feels Pointless—Use God's Perfect Remedy (Part 1 of 3) 💊
Our Heavenly Father always knows what's best for us...
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
—Romans 5:3-5
Julie loves pain. Good thing, cause she’s endured much this year.
Who told her opening a gymnastics school in her small hometown would be hard? Oh yeah, everyone.
Covid delays. Building permits. Cash shortages with no credit available.
For most wannabe entrepreneurs, all mountains.
For her? Speed bumps on the way to success.
“Every pain has a purpose,” she always tells her students, “when it's on the path toward your goal.”
“What if your pain seems pointless?” they ask. “Like it has no purpose?”
She shrugs. “Never happens to me.”
"Gather around, Ladies!" Julie motions her new students toward the expansive black mat that could cover half a football field. Twenty-two girls, age five to ten, mosey over, laughing and talking in their freshest gear—flashy leotards and nervous smiles.
Julie stretches her arms and shouts, "Who's ready to learn gymnastics?"
The girls cheer, a few of them raising their hands.
"That's great,” Julie says. "Stick with it, and you’ll learn discipline, dedication, and how to fight through pain—even when you want to quit.
“I've been a gymnast since I was your age." She leans toward the group, cupping her mouth. "Now I'm 52 and still doing it. Once you get the basics, you’ll never want to stop.”
A little blonde girl shoots up her hand. Julie nods at her. "Yes, Hannah?"
"Coach Julie, when do we get to do that?" She points at the balance beam on the far side of the room.
Julie smiles. "I love your enthusiasm.” She bends down, slapping the mat with her chiseled arm. “But first, we need to master the moves down here.”
Hannah nods with a slight frown. "Can you still show us your skills? My mom told me you were in the Olympics."
"Almost. I should have been there, but uh—” Julie bites her lip. “Lost my spot at the last second. Anyway, we need to get started on the mats. Lets do this—”
Another girl interjects. "Will you please do the beam? It’d be really inspiring to see you.”
A few more jump in. "Yes! Show us!"
Julie purses her lips and sighs. I’m such a sucker. "OK, OK. Stay here and watch."
The girls hoot and pump their arms as Julie pulls her compact frame onto the balance beam.
What should I do? After concocting a quick routine to dazzle the crowd, she bows her head and closes her eyes. As always, Lord, hold me with your hands.
Julie extends forward, preparing to leap. She turns toward the girls and smiles—for only a second.
Her grin contorts into a crooked grimace as a jolt of searing pain shoots through the right side of her face. She grabs her jaw with both hands and screams.
Her students shout from below. "Coach Julie, what's wrong?"