Don't Waste Your Pain

You know the old verbiage that goes through your mind as you deal with pain...

"I just can't take this any more! I can't handle even one more minute of this."

or

"I can't continue being nice, selfless, calm, etc while i am going through all of this."

or

"No one else is going through something like this. I feel soooooo alone."

All of these statements have one thing in common-They put all the emphasis on us and what we are trying to do in our own strength and none on God and what He does THROUGH us. Remember the words in 1 Corinthians 10:13 in which Paul says:

"There is no trial that has OVERTAKEN you but such as is COMMON to man, and GOD who is FAITHFUL will not allow you to be tried BEYOND what you are able to BEAR."

You've read this before, I'm sure, many times but how often do you stop and reflect on what this verse is teaching you? God sends trials our way every day...He loves us and wants us to grow to be more Christ like, but He never gives us something that, with His grace, we are not able to bear!

I like the saying, "I've had a lot of hard days, but I've made it through each and every one of them- So I can make it through this." AMEN...

First let us remember what Paul says at the beginning of this verse. These trials you and I face are common, ordinary, everyday. Meaning what? That this heart-stopping painful situation you are going through has been going on since the beginning of time. People all across our world today are fighting chronic, desperate pain, marital despair, loss of a child, cancer, etc. We HAVE to remember we are not unique in this experience and in some way that should bring us comfort knowing not only are we not alone in our pain but that God is faithful and knows exactly the pain we are going through. He allows this pain in your life to shape you, mold you, grow you to be less like the person you used to be and more like Jesus!

So what does Paul tell us to do in the trials we face? Trust God. He sent Jesus who was tried and tempted in every way we have been but endured. Because He understands our pain like no one else (even though it is common to man- LOL ) we can go to Him asking Him for the grace TODAY to endure this difficulty and the wisdom to understand it and get through it.

Ask...and ye shall receive.

God bless you all!