"And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better (more profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.

And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you; it is better (more profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell (Gehenna) of fire."

~ Matthew 18.8-9 AMPC

Early last year I wrote about this same thing, because I realised that my pain was probably the only way to get through me. It was difficult but necessary.

And recently it just dawned on me. That was the most recent major pain, but I have had a few major pains in the past. And each of those was actually God's way to get through me, whether I realised it or not. I suppose that is more a reflection of me than of God?

I recall that I learned about Matthew 18.8-9 when I was young and prayed to God for it: For him to give me strength to cut off or pluck out something that may cause me to stumble. Obviously, I failed and so God interfered and cut off or pluck out on my behalf.

Painful, very painful. But I trust he knows it is better.

Amen

~

See:
Which door?
Difficult but necessary
The only way to get through
Pain is better than ..