Finding Purpose and Growth Through Pain
Summary
In this message, we explore the profound question of pain and its place in our lives. Pain is a universal experience, and many wonder why a good God allows it. While we may not have all the answers, we do know that pain is a consequence of the freedom of choice given to us by God. This freedom, while a blessing, also leads to poor choices that result in pain. However, pain is not without purpose. It serves as a warning light, alerting us to something wrong and prompting us to change direction.
God can use pain for good, and we have the power to choose how we respond to it. Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We can choose to let pain draw us closer to God, deepen our relationships with others, and grow us in character. Pain can be a tool for discipleship, shaping us to be more like Christ. It can also make us more sensitive to the needs of others, enabling us to serve them better. Furthermore, our pain can be a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the strength and comfort we find in God.
The key is not to waste our pain but to use it for good. By focusing on the purposes God has for our lives—worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and witness—we can find meaning in our suffering. Pain can be managed by purpose, and when we understand its purpose, we can endure it with resilience and hope.
Key Takeaways:
- Pain as a Warning Light: Pain serves as a crucial warning light, alerting us to something wrong in our lives. It prompts us to stop and reassess our actions, preventing further harm. Without pain, we might continue down destructive paths without realizing it. [03:23]
- Freedom and Pain: The freedom of choice is both a blessing and a liability. While it allows us to choose between right and wrong, it also means we can make poor choices that lead to pain. Understanding this helps us see pain as a consequence of our actions and a call to make better choices. [02:17]
- Purpose in Pain: Pain can be managed by purpose. When we understand that God can use our pain for good, it becomes more bearable. Knowing there's a purpose behind our suffering allows us to endure it with hope and resilience. [10:05]
- Pain and Character Growth: Pain is an opportunity for character growth. It challenges us to develop qualities like love, joy, peace, and patience, even in difficult circumstances. Through pain, we can become more like Christ, growing in spiritual maturity. [21:57]
- Pain as a Witness: Our response to pain can be a powerful witness to the world. While success might impress others, it's our faithfulness and resilience in suffering that truly demonstrate the strength of our faith. By sharing how God has helped us through pain, we can offer hope and encouragement to others. [33:27]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - Introduction to Pain Series
- [00:40] - The Question of Pain
- [01:12] - Solomon's Reflection on Pain
- [01:58] - Freedom of Choice and Pain
- [03:23] - Pain as a Warning Light
- [04:51] - Choices in Responding to Pain
- [06:15] - Not Wasting Our Pain
- [07:31] - Purpose Behind Pain
- [09:17] - Romans 8:28 and Purpose
- [10:26] - Five Purposes of Life
- [13:12] - Pain and Life's Purposes
- [14:53] - Drawing Closer to God in Pain
- [18:36] - Pain and Fellowship
- [21:37] - Pain and Discipleship
- [30:47] - Pain and Service
- [33:27] - Pain as a Witness
- [37:21] - Homework and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 - "So what do people get for all their hard work and struggles on Earth? Their lives are filled with pain and their work is filled with grief. Even at night, their minds don't rest. It doesn't make sense at all."
2. Romans 8:28 - "We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
3. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 - "When we were crushed and overwhelmed, and we saw how powerless we were to help ourselves, even that was good for then we put everything into the hands of God who alone could save us, and he did help us."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, what does Solomon say about the nature of human life and work? How does this relate to the universal experience of pain? [00:54]
2. In Romans 8:28, what assurance does Paul give about the role of God in our lives, especially in the context of suffering? [09:17]
3. How does 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 describe Paul's experience with suffering, and what was his response to it? [17:09]
4. What are the five purposes of life mentioned in the sermon, and how can they help us find meaning in our suffering? [10:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the freedom of choice relate to the presence of pain in our lives, according to the sermon? What implications does this have for understanding the nature of suffering? [02:17]
2. The sermon suggests that pain can be a tool for character growth. How might this perspective change the way one views their own painful experiences? [21:57]
3. In what ways can pain serve as a witness to others, and how does this align with the idea of using pain for a greater purpose? [33:27]
4. How does the concept of "not wasting our pain" challenge or encourage individuals in their personal spiritual journeys? [06:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent painful experience. How did you respond to it, and in what ways could you have used it to draw closer to God in worship? [15:19]
2. Consider a time when you were in pain and either ran towards or away from God. What was the outcome, and how might you choose differently in the future? [15:31]
3. Identify a relationship in your life that has been affected by pain. How can you use this pain to deepen your fellowship and love for others? [18:36]
4. Think of a specific character trait you wish to develop. How can you use your current challenges to grow in this area and become more like Christ? [21:57]
5. Recall a moment when you witnessed someone else in pain. How did you respond, and how can you be more sensitive in serving others who are suffering? [30:47]
6. Reflect on a painful experience that has shaped your life. How can you share this experience as a testimony to encourage and witness to others? [33:27]
7. What are some practical steps you can take this week to ensure you do not waste your pain but instead use it for growth and ministry? [06:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Pain as a Divine Alert
Pain serves as a crucial warning light, alerting us to something wrong in our lives. It prompts us to stop and reassess our actions, preventing further harm. Without pain, we might continue down destructive paths without realizing it. This understanding of pain as a divine alert helps us to see it not as a punishment, but as a guide. It is a call to pause, reflect, and make necessary changes in our lives. By acknowledging pain as a signal, we can begin to address the underlying issues that may be causing it. [03:23]
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction." (Isaiah 48:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where pain is signaling a need for change? How can you begin to address this today?
Day 2: The Dual Nature of Freedom
The freedom of choice is both a blessing and a liability. While it allows us to choose between right and wrong, it also means we can make poor choices that lead to pain. Understanding this helps us see pain as a consequence of our actions and a call to make better choices. This dual nature of freedom reminds us that with great power comes great responsibility. It encourages us to be mindful of our decisions and to seek wisdom in our choices, knowing that they can have significant impacts on our lives and the lives of others. [02:17]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision that led to pain. How can you use your freedom to make a different choice today that aligns with God's love and wisdom?
Day 3: Finding Purpose in Pain
Pain can be managed by purpose. When we understand that God can use our pain for good, it becomes more bearable. Knowing there's a purpose behind our suffering allows us to endure it with hope and resilience. This perspective transforms our view of pain from something to be avoided to something that can be embraced as part of our spiritual journey. By focusing on the purposes God has for our lives—worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and witness—we can find meaning in our suffering and use it to grow closer to God and others. [10:05]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can find purpose in your current pain? How can this purpose help you endure with hope and resilience?
Day 4: Pain as a Catalyst for Character Growth
Pain is an opportunity for character growth. It challenges us to develop qualities like love, joy, peace, and patience, even in difficult circumstances. Through pain, we can become more like Christ, growing in spiritual maturity. This growth is not automatic; it requires intentionality and a willingness to learn from our experiences. By embracing pain as a catalyst for growth, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with God, ultimately becoming more compassionate and empathetic towards others. [21:57]
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: How has a past experience of pain contributed to your character growth? What is one quality you can focus on developing through your current challenges?
Day 5: Pain as a Witness to the World
Our response to pain can be a powerful witness to the world. While success might impress others, it's our faithfulness and resilience in suffering that truly demonstrate the strength of our faith. By sharing how God has helped us through pain, we can offer hope and encouragement to others. This witness is not about showcasing our strength, but about pointing to God's presence and power in our lives. It is an opportunity to testify to the comfort and peace we find in Him, even in the midst of trials. [33:27]
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you share your story of pain and God's faithfulness with someone who needs encouragement today? What specific steps can you take to be a witness of His strength in your life?
Quotes
The first big reason is we often experience pain because God gave us the freedom of choice, the freedom to make choices, the freedom to choose between right and wrong, good and bad. That's not only our greatest blessing, it's also our greatest liability too because we often make poor choices. [00:02:10]
Pain is a warning light that something is wrong. And if we didn't have that warning light, we would often continue in the wrong direction and continue to hurt ourselves. For instance, if you didn't feel pain when you touch a hot stove, then you wouldn't know to remove your hand. [00:03:26]
Pain is inevitable, it is not optional. You can't opt out of it. Nobody gets to go through life pain-free. Now, when I talk about pain, we're not just talking about physical pain, but we're talking about every kind of pain, emotional pain, mental pain, relational pain, spiritual pain, financial pain, vocational pain. [00:05:05]
I've seen many, many scientific studies that have documented the fact that human beings are able to handle enormous amounts of pain if, there's the if, the big if, if we know there's a good purpose behind it, there's a good purpose for our pain, and then we can benefit from the pain. [00:06:49]
Pain can be managed by purpose, pain can be managed on purpose, and pain can be managed for a purpose. Now, if you've read the "Purpose Driven Life" book, you know that the Bible tells us that God has five purposes for your life. [00:10:05]
Use my pain to draw closer to God in worship. Now, you know that when anything happens painful in your life, you've got a choice. You can run to God or you can run from God. And you know what, I've noticed in life about half people do both. [00:14:53]
Use my pain to draw closer to others in fellowship. If you will allow it, pain will deepen your love, pain will mature your love because suffering sensitizes you. I have seen pain turned the most self-centered people into sympathetic people. [00:18:36]
Use pain to grow more like Jesus in discipleship. I grow closer to him in worship, I grow closer to others in fellowship, I grow deeper in discipleship through pain. Every pain in your life is an opportunity to grow in character. [00:21:37]
Pain sensitizes you to the pain in others. You feel it in others. If you have gone through a divorce, you know what it feels like to be divorced. If you've gone through the loss of a loved one, you know what that feels like. [00:30:47]
I can use my pain to witness to the world. I use my pain to witness the world. I'm gonna spend more time on this in another message because it's so important. You see, we think that the world is impressed with our success, with our prosperity. [00:33:27]
We think our successes give credibility, but actually, it's our suffering that gives us credibility. And the more you're honest about the suffering in your life, the more vulnerable, the more authentic, the more powerful your impact will be in people's lives. [00:34:03]
Your deepest life message will come out of your deepest pain. This is real, this is authentic. This is the kind of witness, this is the kind of testimony the world need to see, not Christians who are perfect, not Christians who have everything together. [00:35:32]
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