You have a big test next period, but right now you have a killer headache. You had a little too much fun at lunch with your friends, and now your stomach hurts after your chocolate-milk-drinking contest. You overdid it during practice last night, and you woke up with an aching back. It’s time to take a pain killer to relieve some of your aches and pains. A Tylenol or Advil every now and then won’t cause any harm, but are you becoming too comfortable with masking over the pain? Instead of popping that pill, try one (or all) of these four solutions:
Identify the root causes of pain.
Pain is a signal of deeper problems, similar to the warning light on the dashboard of your car. You can mask the light with duct tape, which is what over-the-counter drugs do with pain. Or, you can look for the root causes. Your headache may be the accumulation of stress and not taking care of yourself during a stressful time of your life. Your body aches may be caused from overuse and may be a warning sign of a potentially harmful situation. Address the problem, and the pain will subside.
Make good choices.
Most chronic conditions are caused by lifestyle choices that aren’t the healthiest. Try walking more, eating and sleeping better, eliminating stress and bad habits from your life, to watch pain decrease and health increase. It’s that simple. Moreover, surround yourself with a healing community of like-minded people who support and encourage your healthy choices. If you usually hit the gym with a friend who’s obsessed with losing weight, it may be a good idea to find a different workout partner. If your lunch buddies always binge eat junk food, seek a crowd who’s interested in eating a more balanced diet. If your family and friends can’t provide the support you need, there is certainly someone at church who can give the encouragement you need to make positive change in your life.
Explore more natural resources.
We’re typically the cause of our own pain. But, God’s world offers many remedies, none of which do we need to look for at great lengths. Maybe your headache is caused from stress or dehydration. Slow down, or drink more water. Could body aches and pains been prevented by doing a proper warm-up, cooling-down, getting a massage or stretching? God has given you everything you need to properly care of your body, trust that He will provide what you need through time, relaxation, healthy consumption, etc.
Ask God for healing.
When you’re simply at a stage in life where you can’t understand why your body doesn’t feel right, ask God for His healing hand. Even if He doesn’t heal you on the spot, by offering yourself up in prayer, you’re deciding to take your focus off of your pain for a moment. Through prayer, God may reveal the deeper issue at hand, which may help you find true, ultimate healing.
