Good morning friends! It is a beautiful, clear, sunny fall day here in the Pacific Northwest and, I say, “Thank you, Jesus!” I know, all too soon, the days will be shorter, and darker, and much-needed rain will be nourishing the thousands of Evergreens blanketing this state. Also, snow will thicken and cover the Cascade Mountains and gorgeous Mount Rainier! Breathtaking images that remind me of our creator. 🙂
Today I was focusing my thoughts on a message I had received last Tuesday, from a close friend and mentor, Vicki-Lynn. During our messages, she said, “God doesn’t waste our pain.” I needed that reminder, especially this week. There is not any “major” thing going on, but many, many hiccups. Do you ever have those days where one thing after another goes wrong?! And then the next day is kind of similar? So when the third day comes around, it takes a ton of momentum and a whole lot of Jesus to throw the covers off of you, roll out of bed, and say “Good Morning, I am ready for today!!”
At the beginning of this week, I would not have been able to greet you with the same enthusiasm and smiles had I not reflected on my friend’s perfectly timed message and God’s word. Diving into God’s Word helped me to greet this morning in a fresh, Holy Spirit anointed way. Check it out:
Isn’t that reassuring? God does not waste any tears, hardships, or lessons, and it doesn’t matter how big or small the difficulties are to us. He sees and knows them all! Pastor Jim Duggan reflects on a revelation God gave him during a very difficult time:
“God reminded me that not only is He an all-knowing God, but a purposeful God. He even finds a purpose for our pain. God comforted me that day with the knowledge that He would use my experience to prepare me to help others who may one day experience the same thing. My hurt was real, and it ran real deep. But God’s grace dives deeper than any depth to which our heart can plunge.”
It seems as though every day we are bombarded with conflicts among countries, divided political parties, violence in schools, problems at work, families in crisis mode, etc., which leads to high levels of stress and, in turn, pain.
BUT GOD…
God sees and knows you, my friend! He wants to take every burden and hurt you carry and give you the love and peace that only He can give you. He has an incredible plan for You and He will use your experiences for His glory to help others!! Isn’t that incredible?!
But, how, right?! Here are some steps I have used to move from hurt to help to hope:
1. Have a relationship with Jesus and talk to Him daily. If the Lord Jesus is not your personal Savior, and you are ready to trust Jesus with your life, pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. Thanks for making me a child of God. I now surrender my life to You and Your purposes. Give me, by Your Holy Spirit, the boldness to confess my faith in You to others. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
2. Ask God to help you to move from hurting to helping. Pastor Jim Duggan explains it this way, “Rather than asking God to deliver you from your hurt, ask Him to use your hurt to help others.” God has promised to comfort us, be with us, and strengthen us. Trust God and ask Him to empower you. He will and this is where you shift from hurting to helping.
3. Once you have placed your trust in God and released your hurt to Him, He can use your pain to help others and this offers hope to you and all the people God places in your life. “The things we learn about life, God, and ourselves in the difficult moments are the greatest lessons. Only a God as great as Jehovah can cause His glory to shine through our pain” (Duggan, Jim). Amen! Praise God!
From hurt to help to hope
Have faith. Be courageous. God can use you and He will prepare you for it. Rest in His presence, seek the Holy Spirit, and talk to Him daily. He loves you, my friend!
My question to you now is this:
How is God going to use your hurt to help others?
We are all surrounded by hurting people. You are valued and people need to hear your story! We all have experienced some type of pain whether it is: sickness, addiction, financial problems, job loss, death of a loved one, etc. God can use everything.
Ask God and take courage in Him–today is the day You can bless others!!
All the glory to God,
Shanon
Duggan, Pastor Jim. “God Does Not Waste Our Pain.” October 24, 2017. JimDuggan.org.
Image of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 by Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe. wordpress.com.
Image of Mt. Rainier Fall Colors by Mike Peters.
In its simplicity, and what I tell my kids, is that praying is talking to God. I remember when I was quite young, I wasn’t sure what to say to God, so I remember my prayers had more of a King James slant with many thou’s and thy’s. There is nothing wrong with praying that way, it just wasn’t natural to me. I discovered the best way for me to pray and converse with God is to be me.
In the fall of 1990, while my mother was sick with cancer, the church I was attending at the time had copies of a monthly devotional book called, “Our Daily Bread.” Several copies were placed neatly on a table along with the monthly bulletins and tithe envelopes. Because of my extreme anguish and pain at the time, I was hungry for anything from God to soften my pain and give peace to my anxious soul. I immediately grabbed one and devoured page after page. I still have the tattered, highlighted, and ear-marked copy. It is a testament to me of God’s faithfulness and love, and yes, new beginnings.
Heaven Sent Sentiments 