"This pain is God's way of keeping me humble and dependent on Him."
How it sounds in your head: Maybe this is actually good for your soul. Paul had his thorn in the flesh. Maybe God is using this pain to keep you from pride, to make you pray more, to develop character. Who are you to demand comfort when Jesus suffered? Maybe asking for healing is selfish—maybe enduring pain is the holier path.
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
-- 3 John 1:2Source: Religious teaching that suffering is God's preferred sanctification tool and that healing would make you proud or independent.
You've heard sermons on Paul's thorn, on redemptive suffering, on 'God's discipline.' It feels spiritual and humble to accept pain as God's tool rather than demanding healing like those 'prosperity gospel' people.
Crippled in both feet, living in poverty and shame in Lo Debar ('place of no pasture'), he was brought to King David expecting judgment. Instead, David restored ALL of Saul's land to him, gave him a permanent place at the king's table, and declared 'you shall eat bread at my table always'—instant restoration from lack and shame to abundance and honor, not because he earned it but because of covenant.
I REFUSE the lie that God uses pain to keep me humble or dependent. IT IS WRITTEN in 3 John 1:2 that God's will is for me to prosper and be in HEALTH. The cross dealt with both sin AND sickness—Jesus didn't suffer so I would keep suffering. Humility is knowing I'm righteous by His blood, not by my pain tolerance. God doesn't afflict His children to teach them—He's a good Father who gives good gifts. IT IS WRITTEN in James 1:17 that every GOOD and PERFECT gift comes from the Father of lights, in whom is NO variation or shadow of turning. Pain is not His gift—healing is. I receive divine health as my covenant right, not my future reward for enduring suffering well.
Your Father isn't keeping you in pain to control you—He already has your heart. He's not afraid you'll become proud if you're healed; He's grieved that religion has convinced you suffering is His love language. He's running toward you with healing, not applauding your endurance of unnecessary pain.