Hard times and trouble are the way God gets my attention and He can use them to point me toward my purpose

In Job 36:15 I read, “God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes.” (GNT)

Even when I’m not aware of it, God is directing my life. “A person may plan his own journey, but the LORD directs his steps”.

God likes to direct me through his Word. When I read and study the Bible regularly, that’s often all he needs. But at times I may not spend enough time reading His Word, so another way he’ll guide and direct me is through pain.

“God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes”.

We put a bit in a horse’s mouth, using the discomfort to point the horse in a different direction.

In the same way, pain guides and directs me and often turns me in a new direction.

King David realized, “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees”.

God whispers to us in our pleasure but shouts to us in our pain. Pain is God’s megaphone. It never leaves me where it found me. God can use it to point me toward my purpose.

I don’t have to be glad that I’m experiencing pain. But I can ask God to use my pain to guide me in the right direction and thank him for all the ways he will provide for me.