Don't Waste Your Pain—Invest It
"Dear Brothers [and sisters], is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." James 1:2-4 (TLB)(NLT)
In almost every trial we face, God is seeking to "tell" us something. Sometimes the only way he can get our attention is when we're hurting sufficiently to stop and listen.
That has certainly been true in my life. On one occasion God used an accident and a brief time in the hospital to get my attention and to "speak" to me. The decision I made as a result ended up changing the total course of my life—much for the better, I might add. Another time God used a major crisis and loss to expand my work tremendously. He used another setback to get me started in writing. That was over four decades ago and I'm still writing. Furthermore, God has used all of these setbacks to help bless others.
When you are hurting, you can be sure that God has something to say to you too—something for your good. Ask him to help you to hear what it is, and to give you the courage to do what he is telling you to do. Whatever it is, you can be certain it will enrich your life and that of others.
So, never waste your pain—invest it wisely in your own growth so you can more effectively help other fellow strugglers and thereby invest in eternity.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see that you want to use all the trials that come my way to help me grow and to change my life for the better. Help me thus to never waste my pain but to invest it wisely in serving you by ministering to others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
by Richard (Dick) Innes
ACTS International
"Dear Brothers [and sisters], is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." James 1:2-4 (TLB)(NLT)
In almost every trial we face, God is seeking to "tell" us something. Sometimes the only way he can get our attention is when we're hurting sufficiently to stop and listen.
That has certainly been true in my life. On one occasion God used an accident and a brief time in the hospital to get my attention and to "speak" to me. The decision I made as a result ended up changing the total course of my life—much for the better, I might add. Another time God used a major crisis and loss to expand my work tremendously. He used another setback to get me started in writing. That was over four decades ago and I'm still writing. Furthermore, God has used all of these setbacks to help bless others.
When you are hurting, you can be sure that God has something to say to you too—something for your good. Ask him to help you to hear what it is, and to give you the courage to do what he is telling you to do. Whatever it is, you can be certain it will enrich your life and that of others.
So, never waste your pain—invest it wisely in your own growth so you can more effectively help other fellow strugglers and thereby invest in eternity.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see that you want to use all the trials that come my way to help me grow and to change my life for the better. Help me thus to never waste my pain but to invest it wisely in serving you by ministering to others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
by Richard (Dick) Innes
ACTS International
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