Genesis 3:17-19 (KJV) "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shall eat of the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
If we would acknowledge God in all, we would see the truth, His truth in that all. Every time I feel pain, small or great I am witnessing the effect of the curse placed upon mankind due to Adam's sin. "Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife" We are to believe and then respond to what God has told us. We are fortunate to have God's Word, we can re-read, follow, search out questions and draw the wisdom from it: Adam was only told, maybe just once, not to eat thereof that tree. We don't have any insight as to how long after the command came that Adam did eat. May have been years, decades, millennium, we haven't any information on the length of time. That shows me that once God has said something we are bound to what was said. Knowing then we are to live this life, "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20b. I live by His faithfulness not by my faith in Him.
The danger is when we go to the other extreme, become Monks, go into seclusion, and participate in self-reliance. Maybe not physically but in one's mind, thinking if I do this or that I may be better accepted; then be found not fully resting in what God has provided to us through Christ Jesus, alone. Where does one draw a line between faith in what He has provided and works that we may impart to our salvation through unbelief? "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you" Philippians 3:15; but we have to learn how to listen to Him in our humanity.
So when I experience pain and suffer I am reminded that I am only dust. but can say with conviction: "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" 2 Timothy 1:12. Committed what too whom? committed my faith to Him in what He has said He has done. How? "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth," Romans 1:16a.
What is that gospel then that saves? that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; that He was buried, and arose again the third day according to the scriptures? from 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
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