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According to a study that appeared The New England Journal of Medicine
about ten years ago, persons suffering from whiplash following an
accident recover faster if they cannot collect money for their pain and
suffering.
The study analyzed cases in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan which
had adopted a no-fault auto insurance law. Under such laws,
policyholders recover benefits regardless of who was at fault but are
restricted in their right to sue for pain and suffering.
Researchers believe there may be several reasons why people report fewer
symptoms under no fault insurance. Fraudulent claims decrease because
there is no great financial reward for winning a lawsuit. Others may
suffer in silence since they find it is not worth complaining about pain
when there is no hope of a financial reward.
But according to Dr. Richard Deyo from the University of Washington,
there may be another reason. He writes in the journal, "It seems
axiomatic that if you have to prove that you are ill, you can’t get
well."
In other words, people who do not want to get well usually remain sick.
Dr. David Cassidy, who was the lead author in the study, wrote, "When
benefits are tied to the amount of pain you have, then you tend to focus
more on your pain – and you feel more pain."
Other researchers believe that some people recover quicker from
accidents when there are no law suits simply because they avoid the
stress of an extended legal court battle.
I imagine that the same results would be found in other areas of our
lives. People who dwell on their pain - be it physical, emotional or
religious – generally have a harder time recovering then those who place
their faith in God and move on.
The Bible says, "We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and
character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4)
David wrote in the Book of Psalms, "I will be glad and rejoice in your
love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You
have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious
place." (Psalm 31:7-8)
The only way to rejoice in suffering is to believe that something better
is coming – be it a healing, the accomplishment of a dream, or an
eventual home in heaven. Without such a hope, suffering is a real pain.
Without such a hope, most people seek attention, sympathy, and
understanding by clinging to their misery.
The 23rd Psalm says, "Yea, though I pass through the valley of the
shadow of death I will fear no evil." The secret is to "pass through"
and not to "remain in". Many people today could get past their pain and
suffering if they just decided to rejoice regardless of their
circumstances, to trust God even unto death, and to move forward into
the rest of their lives.
Paul Jetter, Upper Valley Community Church |
