The Blessing of Pain
What do you do when you find yourself in a season of pain and suffering? Hopefully, you will remember that God is with you in these seasons as well.
Welcome to the 54th post of The Aim and Soar Life, a weekly Christian personal growth and lifestyle newsletter that provides actionable, relatable, and biblically rooted content to help you live abundantly and GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Greetings!
When thinking of blessings, most of us conjure up thoughts that make us smile, like when God answers our prayers for a new job, a new house, healing from sickness, or freedom from debt.
I’d be willing to bet that most of us hardly ever associate blessings with pain and suffering.
No one likes to hear about pain and suffering, and certainly, no one wants to experience it. But pain and suffering are part of the Christian experience. In fact, whether someone is a Believer or not, he or she will experience pain and suffering at some point in this life, simply because we are born into a sinful world.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:45 that everyone will experience challenges in life. Pain and suffering will be a part of our experience on this side of heaven.
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45, NKJV
The Lord uses all our experiences to mold us into the image of Christ.
What do you do when you find yourself in a season of pain and suffering? Hopefully, you will remember that God is with you in these seasons as well. And there are reasons to embrace the blessing of pain.
Pain and Suffering Grows Us
Sometimes we step out of the boundaries God has set for us and engage in sinful behaviors. We turn away from righteousness to fill our desires. The Lord allows us to experience the consequences of our behaviors so that we won’t repeat the behaviors.
I remember once when I was a college student, a few young Christians were sharing the Gospel of Christ with me, and I told them to “save themselves.” I thought I knew everything. I wanted to live my own life and “do me.” I wasn’t ready to give up what I thought was my freedom, to live a “boring” life.
As a result, I made foolish decisions that cost me emotional and physical pain! You know what they say, “A hard head makes a soft behind!” The pain and brokenness I experienced drove me right into the arms of God.
It took a few bumps and bruises for me to realize that the “joy” and “fun” I had been chasing in an attempt to be independent of God, were fleeting. The “good times” lasted only a little while, and the aftermath was destructive.
God used my pain (the pain I caused myself by living a sinful life) to help others. As I began my career as a caseworker and then progressed to becoming a therapist and later a school social worker, I was blessed to affect the lives of many teens and adults. I was able to share my experiences and help them to understand the importance of making wise life decisions.
The emotional suffering I endured brought me closer to God and allowed me to be a source of wisdom for others.
Think about the harshest lesson you’ve had to learn in your life. Then think about some of the consequences you’ve experienced as a result of doing things your way instead of God’s way. If you look and reflect deeply enough on those situations, you will find that there was a blessing in your pain.
Suffering for Christ Makes Us More Like Him
In this country, we have the freedom to worship and witness Christ Jesus without the fear of being thrown in jail, ostracized by our communities, or murdered for our faith.
However, this is not true for many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe. In my opinion, this nation is slowly moving toward the persecution of Christians.
Speaking up for righteousness and what the Bible says can quickly get you labeled as a hatemonger or intolerant.
There may come a time when you are shunned or ridiculed for your beliefs, but Jesus told us this would happen.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
John 15:18-21, NKJV
We are to be bold witnesses for Christ, knowing that whatever we suffer is only temporal. Now more than ever, we as Christians must stand up for what “Thus says the Lord.” We cannot be wimpy and retreat because the word of God makes someone else uncomfortable in their sin.
We must govern our lives by the word of God and direct others to the word of God, knowing that our boldness may cost us something.
God rewards our obedience. If you find yourself in a situation where your righteousness causes you to experience pushback from others, or maybe even causes you the loss of a job or a relationship, keep walking righteously! God sees.
Your blessing is that you are being shaped into the mold of Christ. There is no greater blessing. You are being made to spiritually look like your Father!
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:35, NKJV
There is a blessing in your pain, even when your circumstances are due to your disobedience.
God uses your experience to make you righteous. You learn from your mistakes and grow spiritually. God corrects those whom He loves. And if you experience suffering because of your obedience to the Lord, know that He will settle the matter.
Charles Stanley frequently says, “Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him.” That’s a good place to leave you until next week!😍
Peace and Love to You!
Until Next Time,
GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Sherrhonda😍
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