How To Change Your Pain Into Purpose
Pain is real. Everyone feels it. The bitterness of a divorce. The aggravation of a health issue. The loss of a child. The disappointment of poverty.
How can you turn your pain into purpose?
Melanie and I have been through a lot of pain in our years together. Chronic illness in a child. The loss of a grandchild. The hurts and pressures of pastoring.
The great news? We have PURPOSE.
βWe know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposeβ (Rom. 8:28).
Here is the βperspective of purposeβ:
1. God did not cause my pain.
Perhaps I caused my pain! My negligence, ignorance, stubbornness or stupidity caused it. Perhaps OTHERS caused my pain through wrong decisions about me. Perhaps Satan caused my pain because he hates my wonderful fellowship with God.
God didnβt cause it. He βcauses it to work together for good.β Job never blamed God. My first perspective in all pain is that God is going to turn it around for my good and His purposes.
2. I have grace for my pain.
The Lord told the apostle Paul, βMy grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weaknessβ (2 Cor. 12:9). Pain can never overcome purpose!
Grace is not something that allows me to sin all I want. Grace is Godβs ability within me to withstand any and every temptation, trial, and test. Paul, in the midst of great pain (in prison), wrote, βI can do all things through Christ who strengthens meβ (Phil. 4:13).
3. My pain will serve His purpose.
Josephβs brothers caused all his pain (perhaps Joseph contributed a little superiority!). Years of slavery and imprisonment later, he could say, βYou meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept aliveβ¦β (Gen. 50:20).
His PAIN had PERSPECTIVE. He had forgiven his brothers, moved on into his opportunities, and saved his entire family. Take a long, eternal look at your pain. Put it out into eternity. It becomes, as Paul said, βmomentary, light affliction.β
4. Pain produces character.
βTroubles produce patience. And patience produces character. And character produces hopeβ (Rom. 5:3-4, NCV). βCharacterβ is used of a statue. I have a fountain statue of two children and an umbrella outside my bedroom window. The water pours on them day and night and they never change.
Thatβs βcharacter.β It is the inward βconcreteβ that doesnβt change. Donβt get bitter with pain, get better. Troubles and pain canβt βalterβ you. They do, however, βformβ your character into a strong, immovable resolve to serve the Lord faithfully until your dying breath.
Praise in your pain! God didnβt cause it, but He knows all about it. His plan is greater than your pain. Pain cannot separate you from His love.
Overcome βpainβ with βpurpose.β