Paul was saved about five years later, on the road to Damascus. In Philippi, Paul and Silas were beaten in public and taken away to the town dungeon. read more, Scripture: Psalm 147:4-5. He is using your suffering and pain in ways you would not believe if someone told you. Dont lose faith that he is in control. There are so many ways that people can be hurt and most of the world around them would never see the pain they bear. As Christians, we know thatGod is there for us. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. And as we behold Gods glory, we are being changed into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18), becoming more like him. John 8:18-19, Denomination: Wouldnt you want to know what caused such a fury? John 16:17-24, Denomination: It was a miraculous salvation experience, complete with a blinding light and the thunderous voice of Jesus, sending Paul into three days of repentant fasting. This includes everything in the spiritual realm, including our emotional state. Come to me,all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. But we can be certain that, as Joni Eareckson Tada says, Well thank God endlessly in heaven for the trials he sent us here.. Paul also had a vision, however, of a man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9) and an angel of the Lord (Acts 27:2324). read more, Scripture: Pain saps our energy and often leads to bitterness and despair. . The only doctor available believed my child was not viable. I want to say to each of you right now: GOD KNOWS ABOUT IT ALL. Illustration: The beauty of a single pearl, or a string of the precious stones, is unmistakable. Have you ever been in a painful situation and talked to someone then realized the other person has gone through exactly what youre facing? This is a devotional written for a local Senior Citizens Center. What would you do in the hours that followed such an event? There is some pain so great, it seems impossible to bear. Everything might have been fine, except I had no medical care at all. read more, Scripture: read more, You can't know God without knowing Jesus and you can't know Jesus without knowing God, May the peace of the Lord be with you. But not all of us will be able to speak of pain in the past tense. The top source for new Christian Hip Hop music, news & more. Financial pain when our position is terminated and bills stack up. If you are struggling today, remember God has not forgotten you. Please spray the wilderness to rid the areas of these pests.Please pave the trails so they can be snow-plowed during the winter.Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. And now is doubling at the rate of every 18 months. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Well, thats a lie. If youre a parent, you already know what its like. Your community. Joni Eareckson Tada understands this sacred experience, as she lives with crushing pain on top of her quadriplegia. read more, Scripture: He comprehends the unexplainable anguish that invades our lives like an intruder bent on stealing valuables our self-esteem, purity, health, hope, future and more. When we are hurting, we want God to be aware of us. Marcus Donaldson has been following Christ since 2004. And when we can, like Barbara, imitate Jesus and his glad willingness to submit to God, we experience a profound kinship with him. Allow yourself to go there with God. Being reborn doesnt I can speak Christianese, but until you learn to, I was leaning into Him, learning to put my complete trust in Him, but r. ecently during one of my quiet times with God, He completely stopped me in my tracks. Stay here and keep watch.. We may not know Gods plan for our pain until heaven, but we can be assured, as Hagar was: He sees us and loves us. The slate has been wiped clean; were starting over fresh and clean. Yes Although you may not leave here inspired, you will leave informed on how to When Paul kept asking for his thorn to be removed, he got a direct lesson in pains power from the Lord himself. These are lessons that can be learned only in the classroom of suffering, and only the student enrolled there is allowed to make the discovery. Enter to WIN your very own copy of Hope for a Womans Heart by Pam Tebow. Exodus 33: 12. In places like Athens, Ephesus, and Corinth, the once powerful temples and the religion of the Greek gods that so dominated his culture are in ruins. When we see such passion in the midst of such pain, we applaud it, follow it, and find inspiration for our own lives through the example of others. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. And most importantly, God was working on Josephs own heart, testing and probing and forming a young man who simply would not waver from his faith in God, even if life took him to the bottom of the dungeon, or the height of power and prosperity. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Amazing, isnt it? Spiritual pain when we question Gods love because life is so hard. In verse 29, we get God's definition of "good." He defines good as conforming us to the likeness of his son. The Junior Bible Quiz Sermon Series Do you know what its like when someone you love is in pain? Mark 5:21-43 November 6, 1999 Morning Service INTRODUCTION I. Female, Are you a Pastor? We will die from wasting disease. For more information, see our, But, my friend, Im here to tell you that this is not how the rest of your life will look! His cousin was murdered, his family misunderstood him, his hometown rejected him, and he watched as a sword pierced his mothers soul. It is not wise, or even biblical, to tell someone in pain that God "won't give them more than they can bear." After all, that passage (1 Corinthians 10:13) is clearly about avoiding temptation, not overcoming pain. Exodus 16:1-3. As it turned out, God was very much at work, right in the middle of the pain. But I have arthritis, and I don't deserve that either.". Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. Something that we can have whenever we want it.. without really knowing who he really is.. In Him, there is freedom (Galatians 5:1). 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. That is, to know by experience, to know personally and intimately, not merely intellectually. He could win more converts, raise more money or mentor more disciples. Im guessing youd do it. Sunday, August 18, 2002 After all, missionaries, church planters and pastors work for God! He hears you when you cry to Him. In medical terms, this is a real condition, called hematidrosis or hematohidrosis. Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Psalm 139:1-6, Denomination: This still does not ease the oyster's suffering. Teach me, teach us, Your statutes. Like nothing else, it can introduce us to the power of God. He works in ALL things to produce Christ-like maturity., One way God uses our pain for good is to draw people closer to Christ. I think its fair to say that for most of Pauls pain, Jesus didnt show up. Unfortunately, it is in that place of greatest pain, and there alone, that the discovery can be made. (1 Peter 5:10). By purchasing products through these links, I may receive a small commission, however, your cost for the item does not change. Username (01) He implores the Lord to help him and to punish his opponents. You know its going to be a tough day when. Please see below for details. That tiny little irritant slips inside the tight seal of an oysters shell, and immediately causes discomfort. How Can We Determine God's Will for Our Lives? I thought about going back over his specific statements regarding the purpose of his writing. We will call this Romans 8:28, Pain Perspective Perhaps a person going through the excruciating process of cancer treatments could tell us how bad pain can become. Sign up, jQuery(document).ready(function($){ Were on a mission to change that. Your B-day cake I picture my Savior yielding to the spike-like barbs, wholly embracing his own suffering to rescue me. Your Pain Has a Greater Purpose Clayton King 2017 1 Jun Our Pain Has a Greater Purpose I believe there is a side to suffering we miss when we focus solely on our pain rather than on God's. Click here to view our policy on 3rd party links. read more, Scripture: In verse 29, we get Gods definition of good. He defines good as conforming us to the likeness of his son. 3. 3. From Josephs point of view, there was a time in his life when every angle of life showed nothing but pain. We live in a world that is filled with hurting people. James 1:2-4 NLT, Not because He wants to see you hurt, but because He loves you so much and knows that. 1 John 5:13 Or any number of the stunning array of diseases, disabilities or discouragements that can come our way. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. Introduction: The Psalmist declares that God knows the number of stars in the universe. Your affliction has a purpose. He gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist (Romans 4:17). . While we can know more about Jesus through Bible study, small groups, books, and sermons, some of the richest dimensions of our relationship with him will be forged through suffering. Isaiah 53:3-11, Denomination: We live in a day when many people are not even interested in knowing God. He knows your thoughts. Sold by his own brothers, betrayed by an employers wife, forgotten by friends in a prison, and ignored by the God who once had promised him a position of leadership and power. In the midst of the suffering, it is extremely difficult to find the purpose of our pain, and to celebrate that purpose. You know it's going to be a tough day when. But make no mistake about it. It turns heaven into hell. How Can God Help You Through the Tough Times? Perhaps 10, 15 years pass. We're sorry, an error occurred. The pain didnt go away. No, Are you a Small Group Leader? God gives us pain at times to make us stronger. Bible Church. God was working in the weather patterns that circled the globe. If you are in a season of deep pain and loss, you have a particular opportunity to know the Lord Jesus more deeply. There is no suffering we can experience that our Lord cannot relate to. No matter what your pain is, God sees you too! Peter, the natural leader of the post-Pentecost church, had only two such experiences, according to Lukes history. We must never glibly explain someones pain as a work of God. As my daughter Christy likes to say, God never wastes our pain when its offered to Him. Perhaps our pain will draw us close to Him, keep us from harm or enable us to encourage others who are suffering. I want us to look into the Bible and look at some Bible characters and at some lives transformed in 40 days. But after maybe 84 years of pain in this life, you will have an eternity of perfect bliss. He grew up on True II Society and Gospel Gangstaz in Coventry, England. Jeremiah 9:23-24, Denomination: But in Exodus 2:25 and Genesis 15:13-14 we see why these words are pregnant with hope. Please, God.Please, God.Please, God.. People used Jesus, flattered him, criticized him, lied about him, betrayed him, abandoned him, mocked him, humiliated him, whipped him, and watched him die an excruciating death. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.James 1:2-4 Because ofJesus painfuldeath, we can one daystand in the eternalpresence and radiantglory of our Creator. Something about that connection offers encouragement and strengthens you. God loves you in your finest moment and your darkest hour. It, I can quote scripture to you. God is compassionate and cares about you and, like any good father, doesnt like it when youre hurting. Or arthritis. Life starts with a good slap to a babys bottom, and in some aspects, goes downhill from there. Whenever the needles sink deep into my head, the extreme pain brings into sharp focus Jesus and his crown of thorns. *, Forgot your password Thank You for having compassion for my pain and struggles. But sixteen years, at least, passed before Paul had another such recorded experience. He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). That means your pain is never in vain. It is good for us that we were afflicted, that we might learn Your statutes. He knows your hurt, your fear and groaning. Thats the perspective we can have because of heaven. But thankfully, I know that the opposite is true my suffering has been entrusted to me by God, and he is using every drop of it to fulfill his good purposes for me. Please take my pain and use it for good in my life, drawing me closer to You. I still cant believe it 6 campuses. God might allow unemployment to teach us faith. }); Thats the crippling thing about pain. 1- Pain Perversion VARIOUS REACTIONS TO PAIN Jesus came to this earth and lived a human life. Let us then approach Gods throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need., If you are experiencing pain today please know that you have a God that caresfor you and Jesus knows your pain. God was working in his brothers lives. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Is there a way I can get reimbursed?Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights.Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.A MacDonald's would be nice at the trailhead.The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.Too many rocks in the mountains. I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods (Daniel 3:25). The physical pain that many suffer from injuries or some type of God knows how much pain we can handle. Pt. Youll see the character on the inside that inspires all of us.

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