Lady Gaga, known for her sometimes controversial stage performances and flamboyant style, discussed her recent “greatest awakening” in regard to coping with fibromyalgia. She said of her chronic pain, “I do believe that this happened for a reason — all of it. I think I was supposed to go through all of these things. I radically accept that they happened, and I think it happened because God was saying to me, ‘I’m going to show you pain, and then you’re going to help other people who are in pain because you’re going to understand.’”
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, was raised Catholic, and while she says she still professes a faith in God, she has confessed in the past that she “struggles” with her feelings about the Catholic Church. One of those struggles is the Church’s stance against homosexuality. Germanotta has been a longtime outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community.
The pop star said, “I pray very much, but at the same time, there is no one religion that doesn’t hate or speak against or is prejudiced against another racial group or religious group or sexual group and for that, I think religion is also bogus. So I suppose you could say I’m quite a religious woman but very confused about religion.” Despite her complicated relationship with faith and religion, she seems to have taken a biblical view of the purpose behind her health struggles. Despite her complicated relationship with faith and religion, she seems to have taken a biblical view of the purpose behind her health struggles.
“I think my greatest spiritual awakening, actually, has been quite recent,” Gaga revealed. “I realize that I have the chronic pain that I have for a reason, and I don’t mean to be like, ‘God gave it to me.’ I also don’t believe in that karma thing where, like, you’re sick because you did something bad.” This is reminiscent of the passage in John 9:3, when the disciples ask if a man was born blind because of his sin or his parents’ sin. The 38-year-old says that it is a constant process of surrendering her pain to God, and through that process, she has learned to be grateful.
The actress said, “When I talk to God. I say, ‘Tell me what to do. Tell me what to say. Tell me how to say it, and help me see the path. And if you show me that path, I will walk down it. So my practice and my commitment is gratitude.” Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Church, who often references pop culture and celebrities in his sermons to preach the gospel, shared his view on Germanotta’s remarks in a video. Laurie said, “She believes there’s a purpose in her pain, and she’s practicing gratitude. That’s actually biblical. The Bible says in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” He went on in the video to address Gaga directly.
He said, “Stefani, God has revealed the path to you in the Bible. Jesus says, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the Father but through me.” Laurie added, “I encourage you, Lady Gaga, Stefani, to turn to the Lord and call out to him.” Lady Gaga’s latest acting venture is in the sequel to “Joker, Joker: Folie Á Deux,” where she plays the Joker’s (Joaquin Phoenix) doomed love interest, Harley Quinn.