Illness

When Pain Speaks, Lessons From a Kidney Stone

by Brother Carlton 
12/18/24
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In October of 2023 I experienced an emergency that shook me to the core. It started innocently enough—I was playing chess in the early morning hours, immersed in the strategic battle unfolding on the board. But out of nowhere, a sharp pain struck my left abdominal quadrant near my navel. It wasn’t just a twinge; it was an inferno burning deep within me.

I staggered to the bedroom, clutching my side, groaning like a wounded animal. The pain was so intense it brought me to the brink of tears. Pressing into the area, I couldn’t help but wonder if something sinister was at work—a tumor, perhaps? The word cancer flashed in my mind.

Isn’t that how it always starts—an unexpected pain, a question mark hanging over your health?

My wife, alarmed by the state I was in, didn’t hesitate. She called for an ambulance. Within minutes, paramedics arrived and whisked me away to Loma Linda Hospital.

There, under the cold fluorescent lights of the emergency room, I spent the next five hours undergoing tests and evaluations. My own research had led me to suspect a diverticulitis attack—a condition I’d heard about but never experienced. Strangely enough, the doctor agreed with my initial suspicion. But both of us were wrong.

Let me tell you, when the doctor broke the news, I couldn’t believe it. A kidney stone? Really? My sister had warned me about them before, describing the pain as otherworldly. Now I understood exactly what she meant. The doctor explained that the real agony begins when the stone travels down the ureter. This medium-sized tormentor was on the move, and though he assured me it would likely dissolve before leaving my body, it didn’t make the experience any less excruciating.

As I sat there, processing what had just happened, my mind turned to deeper things. What is the purpose of this pain? Why must we endure suffering that is so completely out of our control? It struck me: even my own body is not under my command. No matter how much I want to dictate its functions, I cannot. God alone is sovereign over all things—our health, our wealth, our youth, even our intelligence.

The sovereignty of God became crystal clear to me in that moment. I was reminded of Daniel 4:35: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” God rules over every aspect of our existence, including the intricate workings of our bodies. If it were up to me, I’d have vetoed the kidney stone entirely. But God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed it—and for a reason.

Perhaps there’s a deficiency in my diet or a lesson in humility I needed to learn. Whatever the case, this experience forced me to reckon with the fact that I am not in control. It also reminded me of Jonah, a prophet who tried to run from God’s will. God used the wind, a storm, and even a great fish to steer Jonah back onto the right path. Similarly, our trials often serve as wake-up calls, redirecting our focus and realigning our priorities.

Romans 8:28 echoed in my heart: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” This pain, though unwelcome, had a purpose. It urged me to examine my life, to seek God’s will more earnestly, and to trust in His sovereign plan. As Philippians 2:13 reminds us, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

So today, I choose to meditate on God’s word and His purpose for my life. Whether through His word or His works, He is always speaking—calling us to walk in alignment with His divine will. My kidney stone was a painful reminder of this truth, but also a testament to His control and care. Let us remain sensitive to His guidance and trust that even in the midst of discomfort, He is working all things for our good.

Brother Carlton ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and property cleanup expert, he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns, and poems, and doing street preaching. See all his videos on YouTube Brother Carlton.