When We Are In Deep Pain

When my son, David, was about three years old, he woke up one night crying in agony. Melanie and I rushed into his bedroom and could immediately tell that something was seriously wrong. We agreed that she would stay at home with the other children and I would take him to the hospital. When we arrived at the emergency room, the attending physician examined him. He turned to me and said, “I know your son’s problem. He has an intestinal blockage that must be cleared. Neither his bladder or bowels have emptied in a long time. For that reason, David is experiencing intense pain.” “What has to be done?”, I asked. “Two things,” the doctor answered. First, it will be necessary to catheterize him.” I shuddered at the thought. “Then, we must also administer a barium enema”, the doctor continued.

After assuring me that there were no other treatment options, I laid David down on the examining table. When the doctor began the procedure with the catheter, David started to come up off the table. “You’ll have to hold him down,” the doctor instructed. Leaning across the body of my three year old son, I placed my right arm over his left shoulder and my left arm over his right shoulder so that he couldn’t move. David began to cry, hysterically screaming, “Daddy, make him stop! Daddy, please! Make him stop! Make him stop!” Then there was that moment — sort of like suspended animation — one of those freeze frame moments that you never forget as long as you live. David stopped crying, looked deeply into my eyes, and with obvious terror and confusion asked, “Daddy, why won’t you make him stop?”

How do you explain a catheter to a three year old? How can his young mind understand a valid reason for such pain? I couldn’t answer because he couldn’t understand even if I did. I began to cry too. I laid myself down across him, and hugged him close to me and to the table. “It’s okay son. Daddy’s here with you. You must trust me, David. This is necessary. It’s for your good. I’ll hold you until it’s over.”

I can remember times in my own life when I have cried out to my heavenly Father, “Make it stop! Make it stop! Why won’t you make it stop?” Have you been there? Maybe you are at that place in life right now. Circumstances may not make sense. It may seem that God has abandoned you, but He hasn’t. He may be holding you on the table so that you can’t get up, but He is hugging you! He takes no pleasure in your pain, yet He loves you enough that if it takes pain to bring to you the place where He can accomplish His purpose for your good, He will allow it and keep you in it as long as necessary. Be assured that He won’t keep you on the table a minute longer than necessary. In the meantime, know He is hugging you and loves you dearly.