My Pain Will Often Reveal God’s Purpose for Me

In 2 Corinthians 1:4, 6 it says, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others . . . Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.” (NLT)

My pain will often reveal God’s purpose for me. God never wastes a hurt!

If I’ve gone through a hurt, God wants me to help other people going through that same hurt. He can use the problems in my life to give me a ministry to others. In fact, the very thing that I’m most ashamed of or that I resent the most could become my greatest ministry.

Who can better help somebody going through financial difficulties than somebody who went through financial difficulties? Who can better help somebody struggling with an addiction than somebody who’s struggled with an addiction? Who can better help somebody who’s lost a child than somebody who lost a child?

The very thing I hate the most in my life is what God wants to use for good in my life and in the lives of others.

The Bible says, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others . . . Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:4, 6 NLT).

This is called redemptive suffering—when God eventually uses the pain I’ve gone through for the benefit of others.

This is what Jesus did. When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t deserve to die. He went through that pain for my benefit so that I could be saved and go to heaven.

The problems, pain, and suffering in life have many causes.

Sometimes I bring them on myself through poor decisions. For example, I presume on the future by buying things I can’t afford; then I go deeply in debt and eventually lose my house. In that situation, I can’t say, “God, why did you let me lose my house?” I can’t blame God for my bad choices.

But in some of my problems, I’m innocent. I’ve been hurt by the pain, stupidity, and sins of others.

But no matter the source of my pain, God can redeem it. He can bring me through a time of suffering and let me help other people on the other side.