Purpose In Your Pain

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…” -2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Hardship and pain can seem unbearable at times and they can leave you with a lot of questions when it comes to your faith. Perhaps the most common question is "why". Maybe you have asked God why He allowed what He did since we believe theologically that God is all-powerful. If he could have stopped it or could have changed the situation, why did He not intervene?

It’s one of the most difficult questions we can wrestle with here on earth and we may not get a complete answer until we arrive in heaven!

One thing we can be sure of is that living a perfect life and pleasing God in every way would still not fix our problem of pain. Although everyone of us has sinned (Romans 3:23), Jesus never sinned yet He still endured hardship and pain in His body. Ultimately, they crucified Him on a criminal’s cross, which was His willing sacrifice for our sins!

Paul, a great man of God and mighty missionary, also endured significant pain while doing good! He said the pressure was so great that they despaired of life itself (v.8). This is from someone who was living for Jesus with everything he had!

If our sinless Savior and His most committed followers experienced terrible pain in their bodies, why would I think my path would not have pain just because I love God and do good things for Him? Jesus actually promised you will have trouble (John 16:33), but He also told you to take heart because He has overcome the world! Your internal or external pain may be strong, but God is stronger. Your greatest pain may be in the past or a present reality, but God has healing in your future!

I’m looking forward to heaven with a new body and no more pain or death! So, how can you endure the trials while you’re still on earth?

Asking better questions can provide better wisdom to navigate the hardships! Train yourself to ask “how God” instead of “why God”!

God can accomplish His purpose through your pain and He can bring good out of the worst situations even if you don’t see it in your lifetime. He can make a way when there seems to be no way! God can heal, restore, strengthen you to endure, and even provide joy despite the troubles of your life. Trust that God can accomplish great things through you despite the pain and ask “how” He wants you to respond instead of stopping short with “why”!

Right on?

Read/listen to 2 Corinthians chapters 1-3

Prayer focus: talk to God about the pain in your present or past and ask how He wants to fulfill His purpose through you despite your pain

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