Life can be hard, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged when we are going through a difficult time. Whether it’s a failed exam, a broken relationship, a health crisis, or another personal tragedy, we all experience pain. It is important to remember that there can be a purpose to our pain. Despite the difficulties we may face, God can use our pain to refine us and bring glory to His name.
A common phrase people often say is, “You don’t know how hard this is.” But in reality, everyone faces hardship. Whether we are enduring physical, mental, or emotional pain, it is imperative to know that none of us are alone in that. We can all relate to each other when it comes to pain because everyone has experienced it in one form or another.
The Bible is full of inspiring passages which speak of how the Lord can take our pain and use it for good. In the book of Isaiah, it states, “I use the difficult times to teach you. When you go through fires of suffering, you will not be burned up; the hard times will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT). This verse reminds us that God can use our pain to teach us and refine us. Even in the midst of our struggles, He is still there with us, and He will not let us be consumed by our pain, even if at times it might feel like it.
The book of Job is another example of how God can take our pain and use it for good. In this story, Job suffered the loss of his children, possessions, and health, yet he still remained faithful to God. Despite all his pain and suffering, Job held on to his faith in God and trusted Him to teach him and use his pain for good.
Paul, the author of Romans, was a great example of enduring suffering to bring glory to God. Despite being persecuted and beaten, Paul remained steadfast in his faith. This demonstrates how God can use our pain to help us build our faith and trust in Him.
One we’ve all heard time and again is the parable of the prodigal son. In the story, a son turns away from his father and squanders his inheritance, only to find himself in a desperate situation. Yet, when he returns to his father, he is welcomed with open arms and forgiveness. This story demonstrates how God can take our pain and use it to bring us back to a place of restoration and peace.
The stories of Job, Paul, and the prodigal son demonstrate how God can use our pain for good. Whether we are dealing with physical, mental, or emotional pain, we can trust that God has a purpose for it. He can use it to refine us and bring glory to His name.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (NIV). This verse reminds us that even though it may be hard, we can trust that our pain is producing something good. Our sufferings will produce perseverance, character, and hope.
Not everyone I know has been through a debilitating auto accident, yet the pain and fear I felt is no different from what others feel. My husband and I always say, “Our worst day is no worse than yours, because no matter the circumstances… it is still our worst day.”
…In that we can find joy in our sufferings.
James 1:2-4 states, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV). This verse reminds us that even in our pain, we can find joy and peace in knowing that God is working in our lives and He is using our pain for good and that we can trust God with our very worst day to help us and develop our faith. So when you are going through a difficult situation, remember to trust God and let Him use your pain for good.