“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” – Mark 14: 36
Have you ever wondered why God allows pain or suffering in our lives?
Do you suffer from a serious illness or chronic pain?
When tragedy hits, or when things don’t work out the way you planned them, or when your dearest loved one is being consumed by a disease, you may feel angry towards God and accuse Him of being unfair.
You may ask, “Why me?” or “Why is this happening to the person I love the most?”
What Is Your Tolerance Level For Pain?
Everyone has a different tolerance of pain.
But at some point in your journey, you will wonder, “How much pain will I be able to endure?”
Job, wondered this too.
When Job prayed to God, he questioned his ability to withstand his torments.
As his pain grew, Job cried louder.
Rather than being anguished with his pain and suffering, he did not turn away from the Lord, even though the people around him encouraged him to.
“What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? is my help not within me? And is success driven from me?” – Job 6:11-13
In the midst of all our pain and suffering, how can we feel peace in the middle of the storm?
By realizing our humanity and taking our illness piece by piece and lifting it up to the Lord.
Suffering produces intimacy with God.
Job, who endured unspeakable suffering said, “My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You.”
Intimacy with God is often born in the furnace of affliction.
When you are in a season of pain and despair, all you want to do is turn away from what God is leading you to do.
This is the time to acknowledge your humanness and ask God for surpassing faith and courage to go on.
No matter how deep your dark season may be, He will lead you to a brighter morning.
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, the first thing He did was spend time in deep prayer with His Father and acknowledge His humanity.
And, the pain that He was about to endure.
Jesus asked that His suffering would be taken away, but nevertheless praying for God the Father’s will to be done.
When we release the control we have over our lives, it requires faith, trust, and lots of courage.
If God Is Love Then Why Is There Suffering?
Why does our loving Father allow us to feel pain and suffering?
Suffering allows us to be refined.
In Isaiah 48:10 it says, “…I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Pain and suffering have a way of bringing our strengths and weakness to the surface.
God skims it off, and He purifies and refines us.
When we turn to God in our pain, He can use our suffering to mature our faith.
You may ask, “God abandoned His Son in His hour of need! Will He abandon me too?”
The answer is No.
He did not abandon His Son; God raised Jesus three days later from the dead!
Because of Jesus ultimate sacrifice on the cross, not only did He carry our sins, but He also carried our illnesses and suffering.
In Isaiah 61:3 scripture tells us that, “He gave a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, and a festive praise instead of despair.”
The cross brings healing from sickness.
Isaiah spoke about How Jesus would carry our weakness and our sorrows.
“Yet in our weakness He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. – Isaiah 53:4a
Maybe today is the day to let go of your pain and suffering and take it to the cross.
Jesus paid for your healing.
In sickness or health, your life is made whole through your faith and the salvation of the Lord.
Hi Nancy, I loved reading this blog…I truly can relate as I suffer from chronic pain for the last few years. Thank you for sharing your gift in writing to encourage and uplift your brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless!
Thank you for sharing, I will keep you in my prayer list. There is a reason the lord allows us to go through trials and storms. One of the reasons is so that we can share their pain and know exactly what to pray for when we pray for others.
Hi Nancy, I loved reading this blog…I truly can relate as I suffer from chronic pain for the last few years. Thank you for sharing your gift in writing to encourage and uplift your brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless!
Thank you for sharing, I will keep you in my prayer list. There is a reason the lord allows us to go through trials and storms. One of the reasons is so that we can share their pain and know exactly what to pray for when we pray for others.
Thanks Nancy. Your Holy Spirit-inspired words are speaking in the deep places of my heart. Have you ever been at a point where you have prayed, trusted, strove to live like Christ daily, given your all for several years and nothing seems to add up on all sides – marriage, career, business, finance etc? Still in the trials and though I get weary a lot of times, I am learning to trust God’s heart and His hand through it all. Especially today.
Yes I know exactly what your talking about. We need to remember that there are times when we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities. Sometimes our battles can be spiritual not physical. It’s through the word where we can recognize what type of battle we face. But regardless of the battle we need to trust in the lord to do that.
Hello Nancy….. Please I really love this. How can i know my call in Christ. I was told by a prophet that am called as a pastor to teach and lead people to Christ.
Thanks Nancy. Your Holy Spirit-inspired words are speaking in the deep places of my heart. Have you ever been at a point where you have prayed, trusted, strove to live like Christ daily, given your all for several years and nothing seems to add up on all sides – marriage, career, business, finance etc? Still in the trials and though I get weary a lot of times, I am learning to trust God’s heart and His hand through it all. Especially today.
Yes I know exactly what your talking about. We need to remember that there are times when we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities. Sometimes our battles can be spiritual not physical. It’s through the word where we can recognize what type of battle we face. But regardless of the battle we need to trust in the lord to do that.
Hello Nancy….. Please I really love this. How can i know my call in Christ. I was told by a prophet that am called as a pastor to teach and lead people to Christ.
Hi Nancy, I worked with you in the cafe you are such a sweet and kind-hearted person thanks for your words of encouragement it was very well said and demonstrated from the words of the Bible. That was what I needed today in my life it’s been a struggle the last few months and I just happened to read this today and absorb every word thank you for these great words of healing much love to you and yours, Prisscilla ❤
Hi Prisscilla,
Thank you for your kind words. You were such a blessing to us that season. I pray that the Lord continues to touch your life, and shower you with His love. I will keep you in my prayers.
Hi Nancy, I worked with you in the cafe you are such a sweet and kind-hearted person thanks for your words of encouragement it was very well said and demonstrated from the words of the Bible. That was what I needed today in my life it’s been a struggle the last few months and I just happened to read this today and absorb every word thank you for these great words of healing much love to you and yours, Prisscilla ❤
Hi Prisscilla,
Thank you for your kind words. You were such a blessing to us that season. I pray that the Lord continues to touch your life, and shower you with His love. I will keep you in my prayers.
hi my name is Natasha i am going through some difficulties at the moment and i just typed why me and this page was on the result list and i opened it and i read all these amazing promises from the bible and i know now that i need to have a intimate relationship with Christ as job did.
thank you for this. God bless you.
hi my name is Natasha i am going through some difficulties at the moment and i just typed why me and this page was on the result list and i opened it and i read all these amazing promises from the bible and i know now that i need to have a intimate relationship with Christ as job did.
thank you for this. God bless you.
This is such an important reminder to focus on the suffering of Jesus as a lens for which to view our own pain. We can find great meaning in our suffering when we see it this way. The most of all being able to encourage others with our story.
https://honeyandfigs.com/3-ways-to-find-meaning-in-the-fire/
This is such an important reminder to focus on the suffering of Jesus as a lens for which to view our own pain. We can find great meaning in our suffering when we see it this way. The most of all being able to encourage others with our story.
https://honeyandfigs.com/3-ways-to-find-meaning-in-the-fire/