Transforming Pain into Purpose Through God's Grace
Summary
Stories often become more meaningful when we know the backstory. A simple video of friends driving in a field becomes extraordinary when we learn the driver is blind, experiencing something he never thought possible. Similarly, our own stories—especially the painful or shameful parts—can be transformed when we see them through the lens of God’s grace and redemption. The hymn “Come Thou Fount” contains the phrase “Here I raise my Ebenezer,” a line that seems odd until we understand its biblical roots.
The word “Ebenezer” comes from 1 Samuel, where the Israelites, after years of defeat and shame, finally humble themselves before God. Samuel sets up a stone and names it Ebenezer, meaning “stone of help,” to mark the place where God intervened and helped them. What’s remarkable is that Ebenezer was previously a place of bitter defeat and shame for Israel. By naming the stone after that place, Samuel allows God to rewrite the story—turning a symbol of failure into a monument of God’s faithfulness.
We all have our own “Ebenezers”—memories or moments marked by pain, loss, or regret. Sometimes these are things done to us, sometimes they are our own failures or sins. These moments can feel like permanent stains on our story, places we’d rather forget. But God specializes in taking what is broken, bitter, or shameful and transforming it into something that testifies to His help and grace.
Romans 8:15 reminds us that we are not slaves to fear or shame, but beloved children adopted by God. In a world that often discards the broken or unwanted, God chooses to adopt us, to call us His own, and to give us a new identity. Whatever our backstory, God can handle it. He invites us to bring our pain and shame to Him, trusting that He can redeem even the darkest chapters of our lives. In Christ, our Ebenezers become reminders not of defeat, but of God’s unfailing help and love.
Key Takeaways
- The meaning of our stories changes when we know the backstory. What seems ordinary or even shameful can become extraordinary when seen through the lens of God’s work and grace. Our lives are full of moments that, with God’s perspective, reveal deeper significance and hope. [37:22]
- God is able to redeem the very places of our greatest shame and pain. Just as Samuel named the stone “Ebenezer” at the site of Israel’s defeat, God can transform our most bitter memories into monuments of His faithfulness. The places we want to forget can become the very places where God’s help is most evident. [51:29]
- We often carry wounds—whether from loss, abuse, or our own sin—that feel too painful to face. Yet God invites us to bring these to Him, not to hide them. He is not repulsed by our brokenness; instead, He desires to meet us there and bring healing and purpose out of our pain. [52:22]
- Our identity is not defined by our failures or by what has been done to us, but by God’s adoption and love. Romans 8:15 assures us that we are not slaves to fear or shame, but beloved children who can call God “Abba, Father.” In a world that discards the unwanted, God chooses us and gives us worth. [53:41]
- God’s grace means we do not have to be afraid to be honest with Him about our past. He already knows our story and still wants us. When we trust Him with our Ebenezers, He brings peace, purpose, and acceptance, turning our stories into testimonies of His love and redemption. [54:29]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[37:22] - The Power of Backstory
[40:10] - The Hymn “Come Thou Fount” and Its Mystery
[44:26] - Hannah’s Story and God’s Answer
[45:40] - Samuel’s Upbringing and Israel’s Struggles
[48:16] - The Ark Among the Philistines
[49:07] - The Return of the Ark and Israel’s Pride
[50:33] - Samuel’s Prayer and Israel’s Victory
[51:29] - The Meaning of Ebenezer
[52:22] - Our Own Ebenezers: Pain and Shame
[53:41] - Adoption and Worth in God’s Eyes
[54:29] - Facing Our Past with God’s Grace
[54:59] - Closing Prayer
[55:44] - Baptisms and Celebration
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Ebenezer: God’s Help in Our Stories”
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### Bible Reading
1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV)
> Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”
Romans 8:15 (ESV)
> For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
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### Observation Questions
1. In 1 Samuel 7:12, what does Samuel do after Israel’s victory, and what does the name “Ebenezer” mean?
2. According to the sermon, what was the significance of the place called Ebenezer for the Israelites before Samuel set up the stone? [51:29]
3. In Romans 8:15, what kind of spirit have believers received, and what does this allow them to call God?
4. What are some examples from the sermon of “Ebenezers” in our own lives? [52:22]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Samuel chose to name the stone after a place of Israel’s shame and defeat, instead of picking a new name? What message was he sending to the people? [51:29]
2. The sermon says God can “rewrite” our stories, even the painful or shameful parts. What does it mean for God to transform a place of defeat into a monument of His faithfulness? [51:29]
3. Romans 8:15 says we are not slaves to fear or shame, but adopted children. How does this new identity change the way we view our past mistakes or wounds? [53:41]
4. The pastor mentioned that God is not repulsed by our brokenness, but wants to meet us there. Why is it sometimes hard to believe this? [54:29]
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### Application Questions
1. The Israelites’ greatest place of shame became a place of remembering God’s help. Is there a painful or shameful memory in your life that you try to avoid? What would it look like to let God “rename” that place as a testimony to His help? [51:29]
2. The sermon talked about “Ebenezers” in our own stories—moments of pain, loss, or regret. Can you identify a specific “Ebenezer” in your life? How might God want to use that part of your story for good? [52:22]
3. Romans 8:15 says we are adopted as God’s children and can call Him “Abba, Father.” Do you struggle to believe that God truly wants you, even with your backstory? What makes it hard or easy for you to accept this truth? [53:41]
4. The pastor said, “God already knows our story and still wants us.” Is there something in your past you have been hiding from God or others? What would it look like to bring it into the light and trust God with it? [54:29]
5. In a world that often discards the broken or unwanted, God chooses to adopt us and give us worth. How can you remind yourself (or someone else) of this truth when feelings of shame or unworthiness come up? [53:41]
6. The hymn “Come Thou Fount” says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” How might you create a physical or symbolic reminder in your life of God’s help and faithfulness, especially in places where you’ve experienced pain or failure? [40:10]
7. The pastor shared personal stories of failure and pain that became meaningful when seen through God’s perspective. Is there a story from your life that you now see differently because of God’s grace? How did your perspective change? [37:22]
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Devotional
Day 1: God Hears and Answers the Brokenhearted
Hannah’s story reminds us that God listens to the desperate prayers of those who are hurting and longing for hope. Even when others misunderstand or dismiss our pain, God sees and responds with compassion. Hannah’s plea for a child was met with God’s gracious answer, and her response was one of awe and worship, recognizing that the Lord truly hears the cries of His people. When you feel unseen or unheard, remember that God is attentive to your voice and cares deeply about your burdens. [45:40]
1 Samuel 1:8-20 (ESV)
And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
Reflection: When was the last time you poured out your heart honestly to God about something that deeply hurts you? What would it look like to trust Him with that pain today?
Day 2: God’s Power Overcomes Human Pride and Idols
The story of the ark among the Philistines shows that God’s presence cannot be manipulated or contained by human plans, pride, or false gods. Even when the Israelites tried to use the ark as a good luck charm, and the Philistines thought they had conquered Israel’s God, the Lord demonstrated His unmatched power by humbling both nations and their idols. God is not a tool for our agendas—He is the living God who acts for His glory and our good, even when we don’t understand His ways. [48:16]
1 Samuel 5:2-7 (ESV)
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.”
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you’ve tried to use God for your own purposes or held onto something as an idol? What would it look like to surrender that to His authority today?
Day 3: God Rewrites Stories of Shame and Defeat
The naming of the Ebenezer stone is a powerful reminder that God can take our places of deepest shame, failure, or pain and transform them into monuments of His help and faithfulness. What was once a symbol of defeat for Israel became a testimony to God’s deliverance and grace. In the same way, God invites us to let Him redeem our broken stories, turning our bitterness and regret into reminders of His mercy and love. [51:29]
1 Samuel 7:10-12 (ESV)
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them as far as below Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”
Reflection: What is one painful memory or regret in your life that you have tried to hide or forget? How might you invite God to transform that place into a testimony of His help?
Day 4: We Are Adopted and Welcomed by God
God’s love is not distant or conditional; He welcomes us as beloved children, no matter our backstory or brokenness. In a world that often discards or devalues people, God chooses to adopt us, giving us a new identity and a place in His family. We do not need to live in fear or shame, but can cry out to Him as our Abba, our loving Father, knowing that we are fully accepted and cherished. [53:41]
Romans 8:15 (ESV)
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to believe that God truly welcomes and delights in you as His child? What would it look like to approach Him today as your loving Father?
Day 5: God Offers Fresh Starts and Lasting Worth
No matter what you have done or what has been done to you, God offers a fresh start and declares your worth in Him. Baptism is a beautiful picture of this new beginning—being washed clean, raised to new life, and embraced by the One who knows everything about you and still wants you. You do not have to be defined by your past; in Christ, you are given peace, purpose, and acceptance that cannot be taken away. [55:44]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to embrace the new identity and worth God gives you, rather than letting your past define you?
Quotes
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