Getting hurt isn’t the most enjoyable way to learn things, but it can teach you about the human body. I was trying to carry too much down some stairs and I tripped and fell. I fractured bones in my wrist and elbow. They are healing well and I didn’t need surgery. It could have been worse and I have much to be thankful for.

The Bible describes the human body as probably the best illustration of what the church is like. Experiencing how my body responded to the break has provided some lessons in the nature of God’s church.

Soon after the fracture my wrist started to swell. Blood was rushing from other parts of my body to the injured part. White blood cells got the word that a part of the body was hurting. They headed to the hurt in an effort to help bring healing.

The body of Christ should work in a similar way. When one part hurts the other members of the body jump into action. We don’t go away from the part that is hurting. We go to them with love and compassion and a desire to help in the healing process. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).

I have been blessed, on numerous occasions, to see members of the congregation come alongside another member who is going through a tough time. They have done so in sympathy, for they have gone through similar trials. They have hurt with the one who is hurting.

When one of your hands isn’t working at full strength, you realize how much easier it is when you have good use of both hands. Some everyday tasks become a bit of a challenge when you’re trying to do them with only one hand. The body works best when all the parts are working.

It is similar in the church. When one part isn’t functioning, the rest of the body is affected. Nobody in the congregation should think their part is insignificant. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:21-22). Everyone in the congregation matters and everyone has an important role to play. We need each part to do its part.

My arm was in a sling and a splint for about two and a half weeks. That isn’t a long time, but it was enough for my arm to start freezing up a bit. It has been an illustration of the phrase: “Use it or lose it.” Now I’m receiving occupational therapy. I’ve been given exercises to do to restore range of motion and get the arm back to normal use.

Our service in the body of Christ can work in similar fashion. If somebody isn’t serving and is failing to use the gifts God has given them, those gifts might start “freezing up” in a way. If a person stops caring for others, stops looking for ways to share the love of Jesus, they’ll start on a downward path where service will seem harder and less natural.

I’ve known people who have been up in years but kept doing some exercises because they knew they needed to keep their bodies moving and functioning. I’ve known others who have kept their souls active as well. They kept faithfully praying for their family and others around the world. They kept striving to grow in the Lord. They showed the love of Christ to people God brought into their life. They kept using what God had given them.

When the accident first happened there was pain that let me know something was wrong. Now when I do exercises I feel some pain, but that is to be expected. I need to keep doing the exercises.

We get tempted to want to avoid any pain. Talking to somebody about Jesus isn’t always easy. It can feel a little painful at times to talk about sin and the need each of us has for a Savior. Serving can be hard. Loving people can wound your heart and soul. But don’t stop just because it hurts.

The apostle Paul told Timothy, “endure hardship” (2 Timothy 4:5). We need to endure the pain and keep doing the exercises. Keep serving the person who is hard to serve. Keep sacrificing comfort and ease in order to share the good news of Jesus. There might be pain and hardship now, but we trust the promise that the spiritual exercises make us stronger and one day it will all be so much better.