Allow God to Bring Purpose to your Pain

How often when we are in the midst of something hard we wish life would just get better? We pray for God to take whatever is causing us distress to go away.

God has something to teach us in all situations even those that are challenging throughout our lives. When I focus on this it gives me a challenge during these times of difficulty. It allows me to remember when you are in God’s will and you are in the midst of something hard He will use it to shape and teach you. I started to focus on this concept a number of years ago when I was at a crossroads in my life and was not sure where to turn. God gave me the image of a precious metal filled with things that had taken its sparkle away. But gradually as it was taken through different fires it became more and more clear and less filled with things that distracted it from its true beauty.

I earnestly long to follow God’s purpose in my life and when I learned that in order to do that some (and I hate to admit this many) things I would need to go through would be hard and painful it gave me a different perspective. I started getting more comfortable going through these fires, while knowing it’s hot and uncomfortable, I look out for God’s fruit in the midst of these trials. God is waiting for me and you in these hard times holding our hands and giving us the strength to get through each one. And in the midst he’s making us more in his image if we let him. How about that for an added bonus!

As many of you know my father is dying of cancer that came on suddenly at the first of May. It has been such a quick adjustment for all who are around him and love him. As I encounter each day I pray for God’s strength just for the day I’m beginning and am encouraged that in the midst of the hard times that God will show his glory and shape me through each and every trial.

I encourage each of you as you go through whatever you are in now or may go through to be strong and trust that you are in the Lord’s hands. Know you are being shaped and molded and in the midst of each fire you are walking through. And through these fires the Lord is making you more sparkly and closer to the image of Him that he desires to see in you so you can shine His light brighter than ever.

Have a wonderful week and let me know how you are doing! trinitywomen.vb@gmail.com

Sabra