Leverage your Pain

I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1b

…So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9b AMPC

As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20 Berean Standard Bible

Recently, a  *friend and I were discussing life, with all its ups and downs, when mid-sentence, she stopped talking and put both hands to her mouth. Then gingerly reaching out with one hand, she gently touched my very obvious, now 3-year-old scar, from emergency open-heart surgery. Though having academically known about the event that nearly took my life, it became incredibly real to her at this moment. She hugged me and we talked of God’s faithfulness, even through trials. We continued on discussing some of those trials in more detail. I ended by sharing something I often say to the folks we have the privilege of serving through various urban ministries; let God leverage your pain for His glory.

We all have pain, don’t we? Pain from what’s been done to us, pain from the regret of what we’ve done, or a combination of the two. We experience pain by the sheer reality of living in this fallen world. Death, despair, loneliness, loss, illness, betrayal… I could go on. And when pain comes (not if, but when), we have a choice to make. Will we let it go to waste by indulging in self-pity or bitterness or destructive thought patterns of why me? As followers of Christ, the choice is clear, we turn to God for help and then ask ourselves, how do we leverage this pain for His glory?

We leverage pain by allowing God to use it. All of it. Waste nothing. Tell others what He’s walked you through. Remind them that because of Him, they are not alone. Be real about your sleepless nights or your tears or the heartache or your questions of why or dashed expectations and hurt. Take the weapon of pain out of the enemy’s hand and let God use it for His glory.

“He uses our problems for His miracles. This was my first lesson in learning to trust Him completely…”

– Corrie Ten Boom

It’s our choice.

So, what’s your story? Where has pain had the last word? What has nearly drowned you in self-pity or depression or bitterness? Will you be willing, to be willing, to hand Him your pain and leverage it? Pray with me – Father God, I hand you my pain and heartache. All that I’ve walked through. All my pain and all my regrets. Would You use it? Leverage it? For Your glory? I am humbled that You are willing to use me and my life to impact others for Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

*Thank you Mary Jane! You, sister, are a great blessing!

My Story for His glory