In times of pain and uncertainty, what I—and probably many of my acquaintances—tend to do is self-pity.

But what is self-pity?

I think a fitting definition might be this:

Focusing on the negative situation, feeling how unfairly we have been treated, how undeserving we are of this suffering, our helplessness, and our victimhood.

The truth is, these feelings might be legitimate complaints. Sometimes, self-pity is not an exaggeration, as some claim, but rather the natural outcry under the weight of reality. It might be the “Ahhh!” we cry out when life presses too hard.

Yes, we are in pain, we are sorrowful, and for a while, we may retreat and curl up in distress. But the real question is how long will we stay there?

When I used to play football, due to my position, I would get knocked down a lot. Sometimes the kicks I took hurt badly. But what was worse was that, since we didn’t play on luxury fields, the ground was mostly dirt and rocks. When we fell, those stones would cut our legs and even stick to our wounds.

But the question was always this: Will you get up? Or can you even get up?

The answer to that question usually came in stages:

• Your teammates would rush to your side and encourage you to get back up because if you didn’t, they would be at a disadvantage too.
• If things were worse, a medic would come and spray something to numb the pain. You wouldn’t feel it as much, but you could keep playing.
• You might be taken to the sidelines for treatment.
• Or, you might simply be unable to continue.

Actually, those who love God and are called according to His purpose live a life of constant struggle. Rejection, injustice, feelings of helplessness—they seem to be a part of our lives. The reason is clear: Jesus Christ went through similar experiences, and as His followers, it is only natural that we do too.

But what should we do with this pain?

Maybe it would be helpful to consider a few truths—not later, but now:

• Pain is normal… Do I truly want to escape from it?
• Who is kicking me? And what is their real purpose?
• Do I want to get up?

While you’re down there thinking about these questions, if you allow me, I’d like to remind you of a few things:

• We are warriors of a victory that has already been won.
• Satan cannot steal Jesus Christ’s victory, but he will try to keep us away from the battle.
• Through pain, he wants to make us forget our identity, to make us forget that Jesus is on our side—because that would make us vulnerable to even more pain.

“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

Victory may seem like nothing more than a distant, glittering illusion in the midst of pain. But the battle? Yes, we can fight it.

Clench your fists, take a deep breath…

Hear my voice, hear the voice of the King…

Get up!

Don’t ask “How?”—just reach out your hand, and let Him hold it.

Get up!