We love almost everything about our home in East Earl- the layout, the location, the landscaping, the view, our neighbors. It has enough space to host our life group and room for our adult children when they come home.  And the home came to us in great shape. The previous owners were fastidious- the house came to us power washed, air ducts completely clean and with an impeccable lawn and landscaping. The house definitely has a more “lived in” feel now!

But there’s one thing that I hate that we would have NEVER done had we built the house ourselves, and that is the color and style of the carpet.  I know it sounds small and we’re so grateful for our house. I don’t mean to be petty, but throughout the entire upstairs and two rooms downstairs, including the dining room is a super light, plush wall-to-wall carpet.  I mean this carpet is so light in color that if you even think about walking on it, it immediately shows dirt.

We’re not the kind of family that typically takes off our shoes to walk around our own home. And we have a dog. So, it only took about six months of hard living before the carpet really began to look ratty, particularly in high traffic areas. This was especially true on the steps to the upstairs which, inconveniently, are prominently on display as you come in the front door.

So, at least once a year right before Easter, if not more often, I go over to Goods Hardware Store and rent a carpet cleaner. It takes the better part of a Saturday to thoroughly clean the carpets.  I usually do it when no one’s around, moving furniture and pretreating stains.  It’s hard work and not particularly enjoyable. But the carpets come up beautifully and looks good… for about a month.

After seeing how quickly the carpet got dirty again, the next time I cleaned,  I made a rule-  NO SHOES UPSTAIRS.  I announced it loudly to family and put a few strips of blue painter’s tape on the steps to serve as a reminder.  I also set the example by religiously removing my shoes and putting them on the hardwood floor (so all could see) before going upstairs.  But within a month I noticed that I was the only one still taking off my shoes.  It was back to business as usual.

This past year, the steps looked horrible again, and I worked really hard at getting them clean.  When I was done, I gathered the family and after putting on my most threatening look and authoritative tone with just a tad of self-righteousness, I said, “Ok, last year I asked and it didn’t last, but I just spent half my Saturday working on these stupid carpets… so unless YOU want to be the one cleaning the carpets next year, TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!” And as a result of my little outburst, the entire family’s been doing much better at removing their shoes before going to the second floor.

Pam and the kids are really trying (and doing a good job), but I also think it’s objectively true… I’m much more motivated to change because I’m the one who does the hard work of actually cleaning the carpet.  (I’m sure Pam would say the same thing about the kitchen, the dishwasher, the laundry….)

There’s a principle at work: “The one who feels the most pain is the most motivated to change.” Or more succinctly put: “No pain, no change.” It’s sad but true.  I think it’s just part of our broken human condition. It’s why people wait to go to the dentist.

But spiritually, I think God often leans into this principle to take us in new directions. Pain is one of the levers he uses to move us from where we are to where he wants us to be. God’s in the business of transforming lives.  He wants to redeem, restore and make all things new in you.  But change is hard and frankly, it’s easier for us to just stay where we are.  So, God uses uncomfortableness, hardships and pain as the fuel we need for change.

The Bible puts it this way:

Romans 5:3-4 – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Hebrews 12:11 – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

How does suffering produce positive outcomes in life? Well, one way is it provides a motivation for change.

So, prayerfully consider the pain points in your life. What choices are empowering it?  What behaviors reinforcing it? What might God be after? And what might he be trying to produce or where might he be moving you? By listening to our pain, we can work with God’s purposes to produce lasting change as we walk in step with the Spirit.