"I shouldn't take anything for this pain because suffering brings me closer to God."
How it sounds in your head: The saints suffered. Paul had his thorn. Jesus endured the cross. Maybe this pain is my cross to bear, and if I medicate it, I'll miss what God wants to teach me through suffering.
"These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
-- Colossians 2:23Religious asceticism glorifies suffering as spiritually formative; Catholic and pietistic traditions venerate pain as pathway to holiness.
You've been taught that suffering produces character and that ease is spiritually dangerous. You've read about desert fathers and martyrs. Taking something for pain feels like you're choosing comfort over spiritual growth.
The man was sick 38 years. Jesus didn't say, 'This suffering is making you holy.' He asked, 'Do you WANT to be made well?' and immediately healed him. God's heart is toward your wellness, not your prolonged suffering for spiritual formation.
I REFUSE the lie that untreated pain brings me closer to God. IT IS WRITTEN that neglecting the body has an appearance of wisdom but is worthless. Jesus' suffering was redemptive; mine is not. I am as close to God as the blood of Christ can bring me—SEATED in heavenly places. IT IS WRITTEN that Jesus Himself asked the sick man, 'Do you want to be well?'—God's heart is toward healing, not prolonged suffering. The BARAK blessing covers my body, and stewarding it with pain relief is wisdom. I am the righteousness of God, and my holiness was purchased at Calvary, not earned through untreated pain.
The Father doesn't want you suffering to earn proximity—you're already IN CHRIST, as close as you can possibly be. He's not watching you endure pain thinking, 'Good, this is making him holy.' He's offering relief and saying, 'Son, I already suffered for you. Let me help.'