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“We were really crushed and overwhelmed . . . and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. And he did help us.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (TLB)
When anything painful happens to you, you’ve got a choice: You can run to God, or you can run from God.
If you’re running away from God, what are you running to? Who could help you more in your pain than God?
In the years since my son Matthew died, I have had to choose over and over again to run to God. In fact, in those years I’ve spent more time alone with God than in all of the previous years of my life combined. Why? Pain has a way of drawing you close to God.
How do you draw closer to God when you’re in pain? The first thing you do is tell him exactly how you feel. It’s what you naturally do when you see a disaster like a hurricane or an earthquake and cry out, “Oh my God!”
Even if you cry out, “God, I don’t like this. I’m mad. I’m upset,” that’s still drawing close to God in prayer. It’s called the prayer of lament.
You need to learn how to worship God in all the phases of grief. In other words, you use prayer to express shock, to unload your sorrow, and to struggle with your emotions. You surrender your life to God when you don’t know which way to turn. You ask God to use pain for good in your life. You don’t suppress any emotion. You tell God exactly what you’re feeling and draw near to him.
You do what Paul did in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10: “We were really crushed and overwhelmed . . . and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. And he did help us” (TLB).
I have seen so many people transformed by the process of learning to worship, trust, and draw close to God when they’re in pain. They have learned that God is never closer to you than when you are brokenhearted.
Don’t waste your pain. Let it cause you to turn to God, spend more time with him and his Word, and be reminded of his promises to you
“We were really crushed and overwhelmed . . . and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. And he did help us.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (TLB)
Talk It Over
What or who do you most often run to when you experience something painful?
How does God’s Word help you with your pain?
In what ways can God turn your pain into something good in your life or someone else’s life? How have you seen him do this already in your life?
I have been in that pain many times in my life. Some self inflicted and some not. Last year was a divorce. I have built a firm foundation in Christ through my accountability team, forever family, of Celebrate Recovery. I ran to God and my men's groups. Without that I don't know how any one person can really survive.
Today, which kinda goes with this, God gave me this verse
"I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing " John 15:5
Armor up. Satan loves to use our pain as we are weakened and vulnerable.
Good word of encouragement
I like that Rick simplifies life choices when we find ourselves in pain.."You can run to God, or you can run from God.". The professionals seem to say that when we are in pain we often try to make the pain go away because none of us like pain. This "running away from pain" or "covering the pain up" is what sometimes seems to often start the unhealthy habits and unsafe or unhealthy or destructive thoughts, behaviors and untimate negative addictions. Do i agree with this? And what should i do to deal with "pain" in a healthy way?