The Bible describes Job as a blameless and upright man, but God still allowed satan to test Job’s faithfulness to God. After all, those early letters were filled with corrections, some of them quite harsh. God Never allows pain without purpose. In Philippi, Paul and Silas were beaten in public and taken away to the town dungeon. He’d been scored, chased, scandalized and slandered. Perhaps we should note that Paul didn’t hear from the Lord very often. There are no guarantees for any of us, even those called into ministry. There is some pain so great, it seems impossible to bear. 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. As it turned out, God was very much at work, right in the middle of the pain. We never have just cause for blaming him. We'd love to hear from you. Yet, God will carry us through some of the darkest seasons of our lives to show His incredible love for us. In real life, it’s a wounded soldier coming home, still proud of the uniform and the duty that cost him so much. Select an option and chat directly with a member of our support team. Wouldn’t you want to know what caused such a fury? According to most scholars’ time-lines, Jesus was crucified about A.D. 30. Yet, none of us is innocent. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. It exists so that we will recognize there is a problem, allowing us to address and rectify the cause. See our holiday shipping schedule to receive your gifts on time. ... God Never allows pain without purpose. God won’t bring the pain, but He will use it to promote you if you’ll keep your heart right. And perhaps he had other such encounters, but Luke only tells us of these. And His power cannot rest upon you unless you’ve abandoned the idea that you’re big enough to go it alone. They must have suffered a great deal in relative silence, and they must have wondered many times why God would allow it. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. If you’re going through a tough time, take heart. 2. Each of us knows firsthand what it means to suffer as a result of someone else’s sin. Paul alludes this in Galatians 6:2, when he writes, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The church is not meant to be an association of loosely bound individuals but a community of individuals bound together. Sharing Faith Bible Verse. These experiences remind us of who God is and what He can do. Paul’s idea is not that we must suffer the same thing as another person in order to minister the hope and comfort of God. If Joseph had been 16 or 17 when he was captured, how many years of suffering passed before he understood God’s hand in the process? None of those New Testament heroes had a personal appearance from the Lord at every beating, scourging, or arrest. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. He knew the physical pain of the cross, and the personal pain of betrayal. God intended for us to have joyful lives without pain and anguish, but in defiance of God we allowed sin to enter the world. Because of this, some people will get angry with God, believing He did nothing to stop the sin that unfolded. To read Paul’s letters to those churches, one might come away with the idea that Paul was continually frustrated, and that his work wasn’t very successful. The comfort of God that we can extend to others isn’t limited to the church and is not limited to shared experience. III. That kind of process leads to a maturity found through no other process. Without being too dogmatic, we know that, generally speaking, one of God’s purposes in trials is to get the world’s attention off themselves and onto Him, their Creator and Savior—which is the biggest part of the answer to the question at hand. Like Paul, perhaps most of us can’t see the purpose of our pain right at first. Look at the passage we just read. If the Bible offers a range of perspectives on God and suffering, then we must be willing to sort and weigh them when we are faced with difficulty. What is needed is an experience of deliverance from affliction, comfort in grief and restoration in brokenness. I repeat this to myself over and over again. Not despite our past, but because of it. God has a plan for great purpose and a beautiful future for all who believe in Him. Perhaps 10, 15 years pass. In the midst of the suffering, it is extremely difficult to find the purpose of our pain, and to celebrate that purpose. Paul writes, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28). In other words, Paul decided he was fine with the pain. Paul asked God to remove the pain, whatever it might have been. Turn my past into my purpose and refuse to let my pain be for nothing. A cancer patient will come in after being diagnosed and they look fairly healthy in the beginning but once treatment starts I can not stress enough how it wreaks havoc on their bodies. As far as an oyster is concerned, what we call a “pearl” is nothing more than great suffering. “Please, God.”“Please, God.”“Please, God.”. When someone in our church is hurting, the church tends to that member’s wounds. He wants you to share it. playing non copyright music for stream opm Mushup rap lovesong owned by : muffinman Gaming The Lord is sovereign and He controls all adversity in our lives. But I have arthritis, and I don't deserve that either.". That’s why it’s imperative that when we are going through a time of trial and suffering that we remember how much God loves us. Please see below for details. Upon accepting an award, the late Jack Benny once remarked, "I really don't deserve this. The pain didn’t go away. ... recognize that our suffering doesn’t happen without purpose. Let me offer three answers: 1) To let us see the gravity of our choices. From a logical point of view, it would seem that God would reward those who do good with less pain. “Be still, and know that I am God. In the world of sports, it might be John Elway limping back to the huddle before taking his team to a Super Bowl title. What would you do in the hours that followed such an event? For those who will dare search for pain’s purpose, there is one more thing. But the lessons of life are almost always taught in the classroom of suffering – whether you’re “suffering” through a elementary-school spelling quiz, dealing with the excruciating pain of disease, or the heartbreak of grief. People watch those who are hurting to see what matters most to them. I remind myself that I am not supposed to have all the answers, or know, without a … Pain has a purpose. In this particular passage, Paul receives a special message from the Lord. Paul was saved about five years later, on the road to Damascus. Or multiple sclerosis. His focus, energy, and resilience were nearly frightening. 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. The Purpose of Pain We all experience pain, and even suffering at some time in our lives. We already know that “pain happens.”. So this passage speaks to us to help us in our time of trial when we need understanding and comfort. Keep the Faith! Here’s the really important question: Will you find the positives in your pain? Maybe it’s no accident that the 12 gates of the New Jerusalem (Rev. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. But we never need to doubt God's love. Like nothing else, it can introduce us to the power of God. That's a long time to spend parked on a dead end. Instead, He forewarned the man and allowed him to decide for himself. Surely it became known that they had come to town speaking of a Jewish messiah! Pain is an Indicator that Something is Wrong But you never have to struggle with finding a purpose behind your pain. In other words, it's a measuring tool. While this may be a hard truth to understand, suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. When we think of suffering, we often think of God being far away from us. Since we know so much about this man’s work and suffering, I’d suggest some more positive purposes from Paul’s pain. He could win more converts, raise more money or mentor more disciples. Sign up for Beliefnet's Bible Reading newsletter. Conclusion: When we face pain and suffering how we respond to it is a choice. With no way to expel the grain of sand, with no way to ease the pain, the oyster coats the sand with a layer of the inner lining of its shell to make the sand smooth. And pain has a power. Failing to recognize or master these things often creates suffering for others. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. There’s a fine line here that must not be crossed, lest we cause even more pain to someone who suffers. It was a “messenger from Satan,” sent to torment him. If the pain is great enough, you’ll find out where the strength of a person really lies. The apostle Paul is the New Testament’s version of an “unsinkable Molly Brown.” As was the case for the Titanic’s most famous survivor, Paul simply refused to go down with the ship … literally. Such anger at God is always sin in us in some form or fashion. In just a few weeks, Paul had another supernatural experience in Jerusalem, when he “saw the Lord speaking” while in a trance (Acts 22:17). Suffering prepares us in a way that a life without suffering never could. My human heart simply can’t comprehend why does God allow pain and suffering sometimes. In the movies, it’s Rocky, getting up off the mat, one more time. This doesn’t mean that the Bible doesn’t tell us how to think about our suffering now, it actually equips us. He had seen rejection and disappointment as surely as you have. Sold by his own brothers, betrayed by an employer’s wife, forgotten by friends in a prison, and ignored by the God who once had promised him a position of leadership and power. Whatever the problem, it apparently stayed with Paul for quite some time, or even the rest of his life. Only we do that. People often hold only one view of suffering; however, the Bible does not have one approach to suffering but many. After that next miraculous message, it would be another six years, at least, before the next, and according to the record of Acts, there was never another one. In the beginning, it’s only a grain of sand. He hadn’t always had enough food, clothing, sleep, or friends. Lord, help me find the courage and the desire to share what You have done in my life. In that riot, most of the people weren’t sure of what the fuss was all about (Acts 19:32). That’s why it’s so important for me to take my time going through this, because I want it to be so helpful to you and to many others. God never wastes our pain. But make no mistake about it. 1) Pain has a purpose. Pain happens. Pain always has a purpose. Recent Post by Page. We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. We too have played the role of sinner, harming others with the choices we make. The last verse was a warning; this is an encouragement. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. Instead, He uses your suffering to dispense His power. 2 Cor. There, Jesus told Paul to take the message of the gospel to the Gentiles, an instruction that represented a major shift in missions and in Paul’s personal life. We rebel at the suggestion of it, recoil at the sight of it, and reject the suggestion that it might be good for us. The gem inside has amazing beauty and holds great value – all because the oyster had great suffering. (Flickr ) Your pain often reveals God's purpose for you. God uses pain to see what we're like on … If someone you love gets orders to deploy to a war, you’ll know the truth of the old saying, that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” If you’re the one forced to leave, the pain of separation will greatly increase the intensity of training, preparation, and work. Few Jewels capture the eye quite like a perfect pearl. From Joseph’s point of view, there was a time in his life when every angle of life showed nothing but pain. - But such as is common to man; rather, except such as is human; i.e. To pick up one theme of suffering in Scripture is to miss the entire picture. 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. Illustration: The beauty of a single pearl, or a string of the precious stones, is unmistakable. Hugot Ni Bes. 21:21) are made of pearls. ... 10 Things Never to Say to Your Adult Children. Scripture tells us, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). “When I am weak, then I am strong,” Paul said. The good news is that God never allows pain or challenges without a purpose. God has a purpose for everyone. God will use our pain for our sake and for the sake of others. Pain can make us focus more on God, and pain can humble us if we need humbling. See more ideas about inspirational quotes, words, words of wisdom. Religious Organization. In fact, as he set about his world planting churches, and becoming the leader of the evangelistic movement among Gentiles, he seemed to endure an incredible amount of pain. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering and loss, then He has something good He wants us to accomplish. Please eradicate these annoying animals.A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. The good that has come from trials. Though Paul never got to preach to the crowd, as he wanted to do, you can bet thousands of people heard details of the Gospel that day, perhaps more hearing, in a single day than had heard in the past two years combined. It’s a prime-time witness, when all eyes are on the person who hurts. God was working in the weather patterns that circled the globe. One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. Only the pain of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 mobilized an entire nation to take the actions it needed to take, first in World War II, and now, in a global war against terror. But sixteen years, at least, passed before Paul had another such recorded experience. 4 Reasons Why God Doesn't Always Answer Prayers for Healing. Pain is not without purpose. It seems silly to make the case that pain is a part of life. Suffering happens in community and we have a responsibility to be of support and aid to those who are suffering around us. Here are the many faces of Christian pain. God gave us … But the lesson is so difficult, the only way any of us would discover it is that God allows pain to be a part of our lives. It's common to wonder if our suffering is God's Will. Take comfort and solace in the timeless words of James 1:2-4, and discover the purpose behind your pain. This point of theology is really tough. You’ll see the character on the inside that inspires all of us. It is never right to be angry with God. The Bible doesn’t diminish our experience of suffering. When someone in the church is in need, we are to come alongside them to help them through their suffering. Before this moment, he wouldn’t have shared left-over bread with a Gentile, much less a message of hope and love. We're sorry, an error occurred. Customer Service Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT Monday - Friday Phone: (800) 458-2772. One of the first things we think of when it comes to suffering is that we must avoid it at all costs, but God brings suffering in our lives for the sake of our eternal joy and glory, even if we can’t understand why at this time. On three separate occasions Paul pulled out all the stops to ask God for a miracle of his own. This defiance is what brought death, pain, struggling, and all those things that come simultaneously with sin. Try being stoned, scourged (five times), and being beaten with fists, rods and words. Pain is of this world, not of God. Share, pin and save today's encouraging Bible Scripture. He could plant more churches. The following are actual responses from comment cards given to the staff members at Bridger Wilderness Area in 1996: Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.Trails need to be reconstructed. God wouldn’t have allowed pain into your life if He wasn’t going to use it to prepare you for the next level of your destiny. such as man can bear. But when we engage with Scripture and understand what the Bible has to say about suffering, it can broaden our perspective and enable us to make sense of our circumstances in a new way. Paul also had a vision, however, of a man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9) and an angel of the Lord (Acts 27:23–24). Ordering Christmas Gifts? The relief didn’t come, but the message of Christ exploded in that city, in a large part because of the unfair suffering they’d known. It’s the suffering of our Savior that allows the gate to be there in the first place … and more than likely, all who enter those priceless gates will have also known the personal cost of great suffering. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. Know how the pearl came to be? If you've gone through a hurt, he wants you to help other people going through a similar hurt. When a member is down and discouraged, the church is called to lift that person up. But one day the oyster is fished from the water and opened. CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible (Hardcover), by Andy Cook on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM, Sermon 3 in a 4-sermon series called "Looking Up When Life Gets You Down". While our natural reaction to pain is to avoid it, get rid of it, or numb it; we need to realize that God allows pain. Sometimes God miraculously heals people from chronic pain; other times He does not. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. 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. In our pain, we long to know why God allows grief and hardship into our lives. God Never Wastes a Hurt By Allen White The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. To ensure you receive the best experience on LifeWay.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. Or arthritis. Find answers to some of the more asked questions. As God worked, the waiting was hard for Joseph … bitterly hard. It’s important that we recognize that suffering is a battleground. Trials put God’s power on display. Working in the Oncology field has opened my eyes to this even more so. The Bible’s approach to the problem of suffering makes it clear that discernment is necessary every step of the way. Slight discomfort when someone in the midst of pain ’ s purpose away to the power of God our... 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