Don't Waste Your Pain

Matthew 10:29-31 is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament. It says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father...So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
 The reason I love these verses is because it speaks totally to the sovereign aspect of God. He is so intrinsically aware and active of every part of our lives. He loves us so much that nothing goes unnoticed to Him. A single sparrow is not even worth 1 penny...They have to be sold in pairs, that's how insignificant and to speak bluntly, worthless, these birds are (as far as money goes). Yet not one single circumstance of a sparrow goes unnoticed with God. Friend, this should bring you so much joy in the midst of your circumstances.
 God knows each one of us so intimately and cares so much for us that if He is paying attention to each little bird that falls from the sky, can you even imagine for just one second how much you mean to Him, that even in your pain He sees you? He knows you. He loves you and He is working out everything according to His good will! God does not walk away from us when life gets hard. He is right there in the trenches with us and will not leave us! Take heart then and trust Him! He loves you, He is in complete control and He is holding you in the palm of His hand.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58


This week has been extremely difficult for me. In many ways I just want to give up. But what will that accomplish? My husband still needs his wife. My daughter still needs her mother. My work is not over yet, or the Lord would have taken me home already. It is in these troubling times I am reminded of what Paul said to the church in Corinth. "Let nothing move you." That's the tricky thing about pain. It has a way of disturbing us in such a way that we don't want to move or do anything. That's not what Paul is talking about here. We shouldn't let any circumstance change our focus. We need to always be ready for the work the Lord has for us. As he finishes verse 58 by saying, "...because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain," I am just reminded that the work God is doing in and through me helps others and brings God glory. Don't get discouraged, friend. These trials you are going through are there to help you stand firm in the Lord and keep your eyes on Him. He will always give you the strength you need to face each new day.