This is a well intentioned trite saying that is most often used when referencing physical competitive activity. The suggestion is that it takes sacrificial effort to be your best and reach your goals. There is some truth in it.
The veracity of the claim begins to weaken when we realise just how many people in the world are in pain. Besides the physique, there’s mental aguish, guilt, loss, disillusionment, depression, disappointment and many more regular causes of pain that do not amount to gain.
I am here to remind you that trusting God in the midst of our pain will help us to mitigate and sometimes eliminate these concerns with grace. Jesus has paid the price of our healing. We can trust Him and know eternal gain.
John 3:19
“This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing apainful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”