"My pain is God's way of keeping me humble and dependent on Him."
How it sounds in your head: Paul had his thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. Maybe this pain serves the same purpose—without it, I might become proud or self-sufficient. God knows I need this weakness to stay close to Him. Suffering keeps me prayerful.
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
-- 2 Corinthians 12:9Religion teaches that God authors suffering as a humility tool, making pain seem like divine strategy and causing the victim to fear healing would lead to spiritual pride or distance from God.
He's heard countless sermons on Paul's thorn being God's gift of humility, and he's noticed that the worst seasons of pain drove him to prayer in ways comfort never did. The logic that God uses suffering for spiritual development is deeply embedded in evangelical teaching and seems theologically sound.
Ten men with leprosy—outcasts, ceremonially unclean, skin rotting—cried out to Jesus for mercy. He healed ALL TEN completely and immediately, sending them to the priests whole. Jesus didn't keep one sick 'to stay humble' or 'to remember Me'—He healed them ALL because that's His nature, and healing doesn't cause pride when you know it's grace.
I REFUSE the lie that God authors pain to keep me humble. IT IS WRITTEN that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights, with no variation or shadow of turning—He doesn't give sickness, then health, then sickness to control my pride. Paul's thorn was a MESSENGER OF SATAN, not a gift from God, and God gave GRACE to endure, not pain to humble. Jesus healed ALL who came to Him—He never said 'I'll leave you sick for humility.' IT IS WRITTEN that 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses'—Jesus wouldn't take my pain if God wanted me to keep it for character development. Under the BARAK blessing, God's goodness leads me to repentance, not suffering. I stay humble by GRACE, not pain.
The Father doesn't give you pain to keep you close—He gave you JESUS to keep you close. Like the prodigal's father who ran with arms open, not holding back blessing until the son 'learned his lesson,' your Father runs toward you with healing BECAUSE of grace, not because you're humble enough to deserve it.