A purpose in our pain

By Jennifer Moreno

Life can hurt. People die, people get sick, people leave you… life hurts. Everyone experiences pain in life at some point and everyone experiences pain in life from many different levels. But what we need to realize is that pain actually may be a good thing, not because we’re supposed to be masochists, but because we grow in strength, we mature and we become wiser in our time of pain. Pain balances out joy and vice versa. Without pain we don’t run to Jesus Christ.

There is purpose in our pain, we learn that God is sovereign and nothing passes through Him without His permission. In the midst of our pain God says He will give us comfort. If we remember Romans 8:28 says- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ALL things God works for the good, therefore we should rejoice in our pain and let the Lord be our strength.

Sometimes we experience pain because of a sin , because sin ultimately brings consequences and sadness to our life. Other times we experience pain simply because we’re living our lives following Jesus Christ. Whichever pain it is…there is always a purpose in it and we must SEE it to appreciate it. God wants you to trust Him and to let Him sort it out, give Him your burdens and release it to Him and you will see what great comfort He will bring you. Sometimes He gives you comfort through His Word in the Bible or through the words of people who understand your situation because they’ve been through it or are going through it and are empathetic. God promises to bring you peace and comfort during times of affliction.

Psalm 55:22 says “Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken.” How powerful is that promise? He will never let you be shaken. Many times we feel discouraged during our afflictions and we think God isn’t listening, but He is. He knows everything that is going on and nothing surprises Him.

The apostle Paul is a prime example of how he looked at affliction. In 2 Corinthians 3:7 you can see Paul referring to an affliction he is dealing with that he can’t get rid off. “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me– to keep me from exalting myself!”

We can see that God doesn’t necessarily reveal what that “thorn in the flesh” is, so that we could identify with Paul’s affliction in general sense. Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that despite this pain, Christ gives him strength – “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Jesus Christ gives us the strength we need and our situation will come to pass eventually. We have to remain faithful and trust God that He is in control of all things and it will turn out for good.

“As we have suffered much for Christ and have shared in His pain, we also share His great comfort.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5

May this serve you for comfort and may God bless you brothers and sisters.

Amen.