WHAT GOD WILL ALLOW YOUR PAIN TO TEACH YOU
Table of Contents of Ways god Uses Our Pain to Teach Us:
HELLO, GOD’S PEOPLE!
Did you know that pain is a teacher?
I didn’t realize it until I experienced various sufferings and pain in my life. After every pain I endured, God would reveal to me the purpose of my pain. He would also show me how to overcome the pain and how to spiritually grow from it.
As you read the Bible, you will see how Jesus reveals our pains and how suffering is a part of our lives.
Revelation 21:4 says, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
The pain we feel is not in vain according to God. We might feel pain’s uselessness because we didn’t accomplish anything, but God is using our pain for our good and His glory. You will be amazed at what God will allow our pain to teach us. In today’s blog, I will be talking about how your pain reveals God’s purpose, how your pain equips you for God’s purpose, how your pain makes you stronger, and how your pain glorifies God.
HOW YOUR PAIN REVEALS GOD’S PURPOSE
How many times have you or heard someone ask, “How long will God allow me or my loved one to suffer?”
God’s sense of time and the length of our suffering aren’t based on how we define it. Let’s be real and honest: who wants to suffer all the time?
No one, but some sufferings are needful for spiritual growth and some to reveal God’s purpose. Let’s talk about the woman who suffered from the issue of blood.
This woman suffered mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. She suffered excruciating pain in her body for years under the care of numerous doctors.
Based on Mosaic Low, she was treated as unclean, therefore, she spent years isolated from family and friends. After twelve years of pain and suffering, it was time for God’s purpose to be revealed. As she reached out to touch Jesus’ garment, God wanted to reveal through His Son the power of her mustard seed faith. Many people were swarming around Jesus, but only ONE touch of faith got His attention.
God demonstrated believing faith and determined faith in a crowd of people. Remember those three types of faith. The woman’s mustard seed faith touched Jesus to move her infirmity mountain. The believing faith believed Jesus could heal her and the determined faith made her pressed her way knowing she could have been punished for stepping out of her boundaries of isolation.
HOW YOUR PAIN EQUIPS YOU FOR GOD’S PURPOSE
How many times have you heard the slogan, “When God calls you, He will equip you?” Do you believe that? Allow me to share some scriptures to support how God does equip us for His purpose:
“May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.” Hebrews 12:21, NLT
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Amen.” Philippians 2:13, NLT
Now, let’s talk about how pain equips us for God’s purpose.
After Saul’s divine experience on the road to Damascus, the Lord spoke to Ananias saying, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great a thing he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Although Paul was well educated and schooled by one of the best Jewish teachers, it was the pain he had to endure which equipped him for God’s purpose. Apostle Paul paid a price through suffering and pain to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. He suffered shipwrecks, imprisonment, beatings, and stonings for preaching the gospel.
Paul explains in Galatians 1:11-24 that he was sent by Christ and the Father, and he was not informed by man’s wisdom, nor had he received it from the other apostles. He pointed out he was taught and equipped for three years by Jesus Christ Himself. If you have a burden for souls, be prepared to allow God to equip you.
HOW YOUR PAIN MAKES YOU STRONGER
God does things to build you, not to kill you. Let that statement sink in. When you are going through a trial of pain, remember, it will not kill you. God is building something inside of you. I must honestly confess that all my pains wounded me deeply. God healed me and over time, it made me stronger and closer to Him. After all the storms and turmoil in my life, my pain strengthened my bond with Christ and it prepared me to face difficult situations. Sometimes pain can be good to pass the tests of life.
I believed that the pain that the Apostle Peter had to endure made him wiser, stronger, empathetic, and spiritual. On the day of Pentecost, Peter gave a heartfelt, moving and inspiring message. Peter had experienced knowledge through Christ; he was speaking from the pain from which he had suffered. Although he was warned by Jesus, Peter suffered painfully after he denied Jesus three times. Jesus once asked Peter did he loved Him. It was Jesus letting Peter know He loved him, forgave him and He trusted his “rock” to take care of His sheep.
Peter had many flaws and he learned from many of them. He learned how obedience from Christ blessed his business as he quickly left his business to follow Christ. And though he allowed fear to block his faith, he walked on water when Jesus called and humbled himself when rebuked by Jesus. Through all his pain, Peter was no longer a coward. He was bold for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter and John went to jail for preaching about Jesus. As they were questioned by the elders and teachers of law, Peter boldly spoke and preached to them about Jesus. Peter, James, and John were the closest associates of Jesus. Peter walked closely with Jesus and when you are close to Christ, you become a bold soldier.
HOW YOUR PAIN GLORIFIES GOD
Did you know that Jesus’ death brought glory to God? John 17:1 says, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come: glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” It clearly tells us Jesus came to glorify the Father in life and in death. His life purpose was to lead people to God with every pain, breath, step, and miracle.
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose, I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” John 12:27-28
Do you glorify God through your pain?
Job did.
After hearing the horrendous news about his wealth and the death of his children, Job glorified God through his pain.
“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
Job 1:20-22.
“He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.” Job 36:15.
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Job 13:15.
The word of God tells us God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). When God sees you praising Him in your pain, He sets you free by the power of His strength. King David lamented and poured his pain, sorrow, and anguish into God. We must do the same and God will give you peace and rest through your ongoing pain. I used to find that hard to do until I saw homeless people who lost their possessions through tornadoes and hurricanes praise God through their sufferings. So, it can be done.
What has pain taught you? Can you praise God through your pain? Do you need prayer as you go through your pain? If you do, I love to pray for you. Send your prayer request to info@delphinekirkland.com. If you found this blog helpful, please leave a comment.
God Bless,
