Purpose in Pain

Nothing that we go through in life is without purpose or reason. The Lord causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and whom He has called according to His purposes. (Rom. 8:28) I know that that verse can seem a little redundant or trite because it is so often reiterated by everyone. "Don't worry. All things work together for good!" But the truth of the Word stands. All things, the good, the bad, and the ugly, will work out for our good. And the Lord is the One Who causes these things to work out together to fulfill His unfathomable purposes.

Have you ever stopped to consider that, when you do go through something, the purpose of the suffering is really not for you? In fact, what if the trial you are experiencing right now, however large or small it is, is really the Lord's way of equipping you to help someone else? Paul talked about this to the Corinthians:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." (2 Cor. 1:3-5)

Sometimes the Lord entrusts us to go through some pain or hurt, not for our sake, but for the purpose of us to represent Him as the saving grace to someone else who is hurting. No one is better qualified to help someone in need than someone else who has faced and overcome that need. No one knows how to comfort a mother who has lost her child better than another mother who has experienced the same grief herself. There is such a wealth of compassion and understanding that is birthed from experience! And when we experience and go through a trial under the Shadow of the Wings of the Almighty (ref. Ps. 17:8), we are empowered as overcomers (ref. Rom. 8:37) to walk as He walked, bringing healing and deliverance (ref. Matt. 14:14) to anyone who faces a similar dilemma.

Take heart, friend. Maybe the pain that you are experiencing right now is actually God's blessing to you, so that you can turn around and be a blessing to someone else in the future. (ref. Gen 12:3) We have to come to the point where we recoognize that life is not about us. It really is about Jesus. It's about spreading His love and His compassion to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and then to the nations. We just have to trust Him with our whole heart, leaning not on our own understanding, but acknowledge His Sovereignty, His Wonder, His goodness and loving kindness toward us as He directs our paths. (ref Prov. 3:5-6) That path may lead us to the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but fear not! Our Good Shepherd, armed with His rod and His staff, promises to lead us through it. (ref Ps. 23:) And when we have gone through it, we will be more than ready to help another go through as well.