How Can GOD use my PAIN for GOOD???
MYTH: "If I ignore my pain, it will go away
TRUTH: Pain is a tool God uses for GOOD in my life.
"Jesus replied, 'You don't realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."' {John 13:7}
1) God uses pain to MOTIVATE ME
"Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways." {Proverbs 20:30}
(Prodigal son) "...spent everything he had...and was hungry... At last he came to his senses and said... 'I'll get up and go to my father...'" {Luke 15:14-18}
2) God uses pain to DIRECT ME
"...it was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws." {Psalms 119:71-72}
"Let God train you, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a child who was never corrected?" {Hebrews 12:7}
3) God uses pain to TEST ME
"...tests and challenges come at you from all sides. (And) You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors... Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him." {James 1:2-3,12}
4) God uses pain to PROTECT US"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." {Genesis 50:20}
"You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong." {1 Peter 3:17}
5) God uses pain to GROW ME
"For when the way is rough, your patience has a change to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems...then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." {James 1:3-4}
"If you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you. {1 Peter 4:19}
Thanks ECC & Pastor Ryan for the much needed message this past weekend!
