Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
A Triumph from Tragedy
Have you heard about someone who’s won a lottery prize, only to hear that it leads to tragedy? This has happened many times. But how about a blessing coming as a direct result of pain? I remember reading about a story several years ago where a pastor had the chance to speak in front of a huge assembly of pastors at a national conference, but while he was working out at the gym that same day, there was a freak accident. He later discovered that he had broken his fibula. It was a compound fracture, and the doctor said that it was best if he didn’t go to the conference that night, so he had to call and cancel the speaking engagement. Of course, he was heartbroken over losing such an amazing opportunity, but when they were setting his broken leg, they found a huge blood clot in the leg that was broken. The doctor said that if the blood clot had broken free, it could have likely lodged in one of his heart valves or ended up in his brain and could have caused either a massive heart attack or a stroke. This pastor’s pain and tragic accident quite possibly saved his life.
From Pain to Perfection
Job understood pain about as much as anyone, with the exception of Christ. Job was wracked with pain and suffering (Job 30:17), and he experienced the great loss of all his children’s lives, all in one day (Job 1:13), and all of his wealth (Job 1), yet God used this to humble him and make him see that he was being self-righteous After he repented, God restored to him twice that which he had before (Job 42:10), including 10 more children (Job 42:13). Through all of Job’s suffering and loss, he came out better than he had been before all of this started.
What Good is Your Pain?
Everyone goes through suffering, both children of God and those who are not, but the difference is believers can gain through pain. For one thing, they can gain a more personal, intimate relationship with God because pain and suffering draw us closer to God since we are more reliant on Him during our greatest times of suffering. It can also give us perspective that nothing that we suffer today can compare with what our eternal future of unending joy will be (Rom 8:18). When we are suffering, we can also comfort those who are going through the same thing or will later experience what we have gone through so we can give them the same comfort by which we ourselves have been comforted (1 Cor 1:3-4). For the children of God, pain is never wasted.
A Closing Prayer
You alone, Great Father, are acquainted with my pain and my losses in life. Jesus Himself knows full well the pain that I go through since He lived in a body of flesh. Please take my pain and suffering and make me see how these can be a blessing in disguise, even if I don’t see it at the moment. Your Word says that You’ll never give me more than You know I can handle (1 Cor 10:13). I thank You for the blessings that come out of my suffering ,even when they are invisible to me at the time. In the precious name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray.
Amen
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