Finding Purpose in Pain: God's Guidance Through Struggles

Devotional

Day 1: Pain as a Divine Guide

Pain is not merely a discomfort to be avoided; it is a divine guide that redirects us when we stray from God's path. It acts as a megaphone, capturing our attention and prompting us to seek God's direction. This guidance is not punitive but corrective, steering us toward a deeper relationship with God. When we experience pain, it is an opportunity to pause and reflect on where we are and where God wants us to be. By embracing pain as a guide, we open ourselves to the possibility of transformation and growth. [09:07]

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Reflection: Think of a recent painful experience. How might God be using it to guide you back to His path, and what steps can you take today to align with His direction?

Day 2: Pain as a Catalyst for Change

Pain often serves as a catalyst for change, motivating us to confront issues we might otherwise ignore. It pushes us to examine our lives and make necessary adjustments, leading to transformation and renewal. This process is not about punishment but about training and correction. When we allow pain to prompt us to change, we open ourselves to the possibility of becoming more aligned with God's will and purpose for our lives. Embracing pain as a catalyst for change requires courage and faith, trusting that God is working for our good. [11:01]

Proverbs 20:30 (ESV): "Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where pain is urging you to change. What specific steps can you take today to begin this transformation?

Day 3: Pain as a Test of Character

Pain reveals our true character, testing our faith and commitment. It exposes our deepest motivations and challenges us to remain steadfast in our beliefs. Through this testing, we gain a clearer understanding of ourselves and our relationship with God. Pain strips away the superficial layers of our identity, revealing who we truly are. By embracing pain as a test of character, we can grow in integrity and authenticity, becoming more like Christ in our thoughts and actions. [19:53]

James 1:2-3 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when pain tested your character. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself and your faith in God?

Day 4: Pain as Protection

Sometimes, pain protects us from greater harm, acting as a safeguard against hidden dangers. It alerts us to potential threats and keeps us from making decisions that could lead to disaster. This protective aspect of pain is a testament to God's care and foresight. By recognizing pain as a form of protection, we can appreciate the ways God is actively working to shield us from harm. Trusting in God's protective nature allows us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and peace. [23:22]

Psalm 121:7-8 (ESV): "The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

Reflection: Consider a situation where pain may have protected you from a greater danger. How can you express gratitude to God for His protective care today?

Day 5: Pain as a Tool for Growth

Pain is a powerful tool for spiritual growth, deepening our dependence on Christ. It teaches us resilience and patience, helping us to develop a mature and well-rounded character. Through pain, we learn to trust in God's plan and find strength in our faith. While we often seek quick solutions, true maturity comes through enduring and learning from pain. By embracing pain as a tool for growth, we can become more like Christ, reflecting His love and grace to the world. [29:35]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Identify a current struggle where you feel weak. How can you rely on God's strength to grow through this experience, and what practical steps can you take to deepen your dependence on Christ today?

Sermon Summary

Taking a moment to reflect on the journey we've been on together as a church family, I am deeply grateful for your prayers and support during my recent health struggles. This time has been a reminder of the inevitable presence of pain in our lives and the importance of not wasting it. Pain is a universal experience, and it serves as a warning light that something is wrong, urging us to learn and grow from it. As we embark on this new series, "Where Is God When It Hurts," we will explore how God uses pain for our good, regardless of its source.

Pain can guide and direct us, as seen in Proverbs 16:9, where God directs our steps even through our choices. Often, God uses pain to get our attention and redirect us, much like a rider uses a bit to guide a horse. Pain also serves to goad and correct us, motivating us to change our ways. Proverbs 20:30 reminds us that sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change. God uses pain not as punishment but as correction, training us for the future.

Furthermore, pain gauges and inspects us, revealing our true character. It tests our faith, commitment, and integrity, as seen in James 1:2-3. Pain exposes who we really are, beyond our image and reputation. It also guards and protects us, sometimes preventing us from greater harm. Pain can be a blessing in disguise, alerting us to hidden dangers and keeping us from falling into traps.

Finally, pain grows and perfects us. It deepens our dependence on Christ and strengthens us spiritually. As we lean on God during painful times, we grow stronger. Pain is the high cost of growth, and while we often seek quick solutions, true maturity comes through enduring and learning from pain. As we continue this series, I encourage you to see how pain can make you better, not bitter, and to trust in God's purpose for your life.

Key Takeaways

1. Pain as a Guide: Pain serves as a divine guide, redirecting us when we stray from God's path. It acts as a megaphone, capturing our attention and prompting us to seek God's direction. This guidance is not punitive but corrective, steering us toward a deeper relationship with God. [09:07]
2. Pain as a Catalyst for Change: Pain motivates us to change our ways, acting as a catalyst for personal growth. It pushes us to confront issues we might otherwise ignore, leading to transformation and renewal. This process is not about punishment but about training and correction. [11:01]
3. Pain as a Test of Character: Pain reveals our true character, testing our faith and commitment. It exposes our deepest motivations and challenges us to remain steadfast in our beliefs. Through this testing, we gain a clearer understanding of ourselves and our relationship with God. [19:53]
4. Pain as Protection: Sometimes, pain protects us from greater harm, acting as a safeguard against hidden dangers. It alerts us to potential threats and keeps us from making decisions that could lead to disaster. This protective aspect of pain is a testament to God's care and foresight. [23:22]
5. Pain as a Tool for Growth: Pain is a powerful tool for spiritual growth, deepening our dependence on Christ. It teaches us resilience and patience, helping us to develop a mature and well-rounded character. Through pain, we learn to trust in God's plan and find strength in our faith. [29:35]
** [29:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Gratitude and Personal Update
[01:42] - The Inevitability of Pain
[03:00] - Incarnational Preaching
[03:30] - Types of Pain
[04:27] - Understanding Pain
[05:31] - Four Questions About Pain
[06:06] - Five Ways God Uses Pain
[07:17] - Pain Guides and Directs
[10:20] - Pain Goads and Corrects
[17:28] - Pain Gauges and Inspects
[22:57] - Pain Guards and Protects
[28:40] - Pain Grows and Perfects
[33:31] - Responding to Pain
[41:44] - Closing and Next Steps

Sermon Clips

Pain is a warning light that something is wrong. Okay? That's what pain is. Pain is a warning light that something is wrong in your life, in the economy, in your family, in your business, whatever, pain is always a warning light. Now, let me ask you, if a warning light goes off in your car and you ignore that warning light, does that make the problem go away? [00:04:34]

God uses pain to guide and direct me. God uses pain to guide and direct me. Proverbs 16:9 says this in the God's Word translation. "A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps." The Lord directs, circle that word directs. So much of the time we're not aware of this, but behind the scenes, God is using even our choices, both the good ones and the bad ones, to direct our steps. [00:07:03]

Pain is a catalyst. Pain catalyzes an action like nothing else. One of the most obvious verses in the Bible is Proverbs 20:30 that says this. "Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways." (laughs) Hello. Anybody wanna give a testimony on that? Every one of you can think of a personal example right now in your own life where you can give a testimony to the truth of this verse, that sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways. [00:10:17]

God uses pain to gauge and inspect me. God uses pain to gauge and inspect me. In other words, to find out what's really inside of me, to test my character. People are like teabags, you don't know what's really in them till you drop them in hot water. In Job chapter 7, verse 18, it says, "You, God, inspect them every morning and you test them every minute." Did you know that God's inspecting you every morning and every minute? [00:17:39]

God uses pain to test your character. God uses pain to test your commitment. God uses pain to test your faith. The Bible often compares suffering to a refining fire. Like when you heat up gold to burn off all the impurities so it's just pure gold, he burns off the impurities and silver and other gold, precious metals. So let me just ask you right now. If you're going through pain of any kind, are you allowing that pain to burn off the impurities in your life? [00:18:46]

God uses pain to guard and protect me. God uses pain to guard and protect me. This is a wonderful thing that we don't often realize, but Psalm 91, verse 3 says this, "God will save you from hidden traps." And you say, what traps? Well, that's why you don't see them, they're hidden. But all around you are hidden traps that Satan has planted and the world has planted and the flesh has planted. And those traps are there. [00:22:57]

Sometimes a pain in one area keeps you from having a even worse pain in another area where if you'd walked into that, it would've been a disaster. Sometimes pain protects you from something worse. It prevents you from greater harm. Sometimes pain is actually a blessing in disguise. For instance, you get a fever. I've had a fever off and on for a month. A fever warns you of an infection or an inflammation that needs to be dealt with. [00:24:33]

God uses pain to grow and perfect me. God uses pain to grow and perfect me. Margaret Carlson wrote a book years ago called "Grace Grows Best in Winter." And this is the point. You know, it's possible to grow during times of bright, fair weather, but you know what? You put down the roots and you go deeper during the dark days of life. I could read you a hundred, maybe a thousand letters where people would say, "Dear Pastor, I have grown more through this separation," than whatever. [00:28:40]

Pain is the high cost of growth. Pain is the high cost of growth. And it's cliche, but it's true. There is no gain without pain. You see, the fact is we want the quick solution. We want the easy fix. We want the pill or the seminar or the book that's gonna change everything without pain. It isn't gonna happen. We want the product, that's maturity, without the process, which is pain. [00:30:07]

What discourages you will develop you if you'll look at it from God's point of view. Again, James chapter 1, verse 4, from the Message. "So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed. One of my favorite authors is J.I. Packer, who died about a year ago. And Dr. Packer wrote these words. "God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with all the other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. [00:31:59]

He deepens our dependence upon Christ for strength each day, and the weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually." I've been leaning on the Lord for a month in intense pain. I don't know what pain you're going through, but I will tell you this, if you'll lean on the Lord, you'll make it. How was David able to write such beautiful, powerful, moving psalms? Well, through all the pain he went through. [00:32:47]

Where are you wasting your pain? Pain is inevitable. Pain is not optional. Pain is a part of life. Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional. And the question I wanna ask you is the question Paul asked in Galatians 3, verse 4. "Has all your painful experience brought you nowhere?" In this series, I want you to see how pain will make you better, not bitter. I want you to learn how to not waste your hurt. [00:33:31]

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