The Best Use of My Deepest Pain

In 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 it says, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” (NLT)

When I’m going through pain, I can choose to focus on myself or on other people. When I choose to focus on serving other hurting people, that’s called redemptive suffering. It is the highest and best use of my pain.

No matter what pain I’ve gone through, Jesus wants to redeem my suffering. He doesn’t want it to be wasted! He wants to use it to help other people when they are in pain.

“[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:4-5 NLT).

Who’s better qualified to help someone with debt than somebody who also struggled with debt? 

Who’s better qualified to help a struggling veteran than somebody who’s been a struggling veteran? Who’s better qualified to help someone recovering from a prescription drug addiction than somebody who has recovered from a prescription drug addiction? Who could better help someone who is suffering from a chronic illness than someone who has also suffered in the same way?

My greatest ministry will come out of my deepest pain. If I’ll be honest with God, others, and myself about whatever struggle I’ve faced, then that struggle will become my ministry.

Sharing my strengths doesn’t make me feel any closer to someone. But when I share the experiences that have led me to surrender to God and rely on his strength, then I’ll be connected to others more deeply than I can imagine. Why? Because when I—as a broken person—share with other broken people how God has restored me, I’m not just sharing something I have in common. I’m sharing hope that other people can also experience redemption through Jesus Christ.

Sharing my pain helps me and the people around me to grow in Christ. Using my pain to serve others is a form of ministry.

I shouldn’t waste my pain. Let God use it for my greatest ministry.

Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for him. I must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us. If I am feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort me. Remember that every trail I endure will help me comfort other people who are Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for him. I must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us. If I am feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort me. Remember that every trail I endure will help me comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles. similar troubles. 

Turning My Pain into a Testimony

In 2 Corinthians 6:4 I read, “In everything we do we show that we are God’s servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties.” (GNT)

I often think that the world is impressed with my success and how I enjoy my prosperity. But in reality they're more impressed by how I, as a Christ follower, handle adversity.

When I go through pain, non-believers around me are watching me. They’re wondering what it means to be a Christian when I’m in the same kind of pain they are. Does it look any different?

The truth is, I have the same pain as everybody else. I just have a different source of comfort.

My successes shouldn’t give me as much credibility as much as how I handle my suffering. The more honest and vulnerable I am about the suffering in my life, the more powerful my impact will be to others.

The apostle Paul was a pro at using his pain to model his message. He says in 2 Corinthians 6:4, “In everything we do we show that we are God’s servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties” (GNT).

My deepest life message will come out of my deepest pain. The world doesn’t need to see Christ followers who are perfect or have it all together. They need something real and authentic. They need to see Christians who are patient in pain, who walk faithfully in suffering.

Every area of my life where I’ve experienced pain is a testimony. Has God helped me work my way out of deep debt? That was painful—but it’s also a testimony. God has helped me patiently endure chronic pain. That’s also testimony. Anywhere I’ve had pain and experienced God’s help is a testimony.

I should not waste my pain; and don’t waste my hurt. People all around me are going through the very thing I’ve already gone through, and they need my help. They need me to comfort them.

The greatest witness of God’s love in all of history was not Jesus’ perfect life, his sermons, his miracles, or his stories. It was his suffering.

God can use my faithfulness in suffering to great effect in someone’s life. In fact, my faithfulness in suffering could be my greatest witness! 

Why I Need to Be Open About My Pain

In 2 Corinthians 6:11 I read, “We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide.” (GNT)

In order to help others who are in pain, I’ll need to be willing to share how my own pain got my attention. Pain is a warning light that tells us something is wrong and needs our attention. 

The apostle Paul experienced a lot of pain in his life and freely told the story of his pain to help others. When I’m sharing about my own pain in order to help others, I need to do these three things.

First, be open about my feelings. I won’t be able to mask my feelings and help others at the same time. Paul said to the Corinthian church, “We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide” (2 Corinthians 6:11 GNT). When I’m sick, do I tell others I’m not feeling well? When I’m down or discouraged, do I open up to people about it? Saying I’m “fine” is the easy answer, but it will never contribute to an honest relationship.

Second, be humble about my faults. Paul says in Galatians 6:5, “Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own. For none of us is perfect!” (TLB) Since I know I’m not perfect, don’t try to pretend I am. People don’t need me to be perfect. They need me to be real.

Third, be honest about my fears. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:20, “I do admit that I have fears that when I come you’ll disappoint me and I’ll disappoint you” (The Message). Have I ever been open enough to share my fears with someone, even when it made me vulnerable? The greatest Christian who ever lived admitted he had fears. That kind of honesty is required in authentic relationships.

The hurting people around me need to hear about how I’ve struggled and how God brought me through—but they don’t need it tied up with a pretty bow.

We all have feelings, faults, and fears. It’s time I share them for the benefit of others. 

I’m The Only One Who Can Share My Life Message

In 1 Thessalonians 1:8 I read, “Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word . . . The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message!” (The Message)

God put me on Earth for a special reason. He wants to say something to the rest of the world through me. It’s called my life message.

Any time I say, “This is what God’s doing in my life,” I’m giving my life message. Any time I say, “I was praying about this, and here’s what’s happened,” I’ve given a life message. Any time I say, “I’ve got this problem I’m struggling with, but God is helping me,” I’m sharing my life message.

I’m the only one who can share my unique life message. Nobody else can do it for me. And if I don’t share my life message, the world gets cheated.

God wants to use me because the best messages are personal messages. The most powerful message comes through a person. I’m so glad that when God wanted to share his message of love, he didn’t email it. He came in person. The Word became flesh. Jesus Christ came to Earth so we could see what God is like.

God has a message to share with the world, and instead of writing it in the sky, he wants to share it through my personality; he wants to share it through me.

The good news is that I don’t have to be perfect to share my life message. I just have to be honest, real, and authentic. Just say, “I don’t have it all together, but here’s what God is doing in my life. Here’s the difference Jesus Christ has made.”

If I don’t share my life message with others, they may never hear about what God can do for them too.

My life message is mine alone. No one else can share it. So what will be the communication of my life? 

Confidence at Being Christ’s Ambassador

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 I read, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (NIV)

My job in God’s family is to invite others to join the family. In fact, I am an ambassador of Christ. That means that, everywhere I go, I represent Jesus.

The Bible says, “We are . . . Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV).

Often I think that, “I’m just not qualified to be an ambassador for Christ.” thinking that it requires a special personality or being good at persuading others. Or perhaps I struggle to find the confidence I need to tell people about the hope I have in Jesus.

Here are five truths that will give the confidence to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ:

First, everybody has the same longings I have. I didn’t stop being a human when I was born again into the family of God. I still have the same basic human drives and desires everyone else does. That means what I’m offering to people—how to live a life of purpose—is what everybody longs for. 

Second, everybody has the same questions I have. All those questions I have in my mind—like “Who am I?” and “Does my life have purpose?”—are from God. They’re not small questions, but they’re the questions everyone asks. And the answers, of course, are found in God’s Word.

Third, most don’t really know what they believe, and they often contradict themselves. For example, some people say there are no absolutes in life. Well, that statement alone is an absolute statement. But when I share the hope of Jesus, it brings clarity to people’s lives.

Fourth, listen for the key that will open their heart to Jesus. That key is their unmet need or hidden hurt. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ. But people come to Jesus for many reasons—many times through their painful experiences.

Lastly, people have excuses, but I have the Holy Spirit and the truth. I’m not alone when I tell people about God’s plan of salvation through Jesus. God is with me, but he is also working in the other person’s heart while I’m talking through the Holy Spirit.

So many times, people, including myself, lack confidence in sharing their faith. The good news is, God will always tell me what to say when I need to say it—and he’ll do it in such an amazing way!

In summary, My job in God’s family is to invite others to join the family. In fact, I’m an ambassador of Christ. So everywhere I go, I represent Jesus. Often I think that, “I’m just not qualified for this role.” thinking that it requires a special personality or being good at persuading others. Or even at times I struggle to find the confidence I need to tell people about the hope I have in Jesus. Here are five truths I’m learning that will give me the confidence to be an ambassador for Jesus: First, everybody has the same longings I have. I still have the same basic human drives and desires everyone else does. That means what I’m offering to people, how to live a life of purpose, is what everybody longs for. Second, everybody has the same questions I have. Questions such as “Who am I?” and “Does my life have purpose?” These are all from God. The answers are found in God’s Word. Third, most don’t really know what they believe, and they often contradict themselves. But when I share the hope of Jesus, it brings clarity. Fourth, listen for the key that will open their heart to Jesus. That key is their unmet need or hidden hurt. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ. But people come to Jesus for many reasons—many times through their painful experiences. Lastly, people have excuses, but I have the Holy Spirit and the truth. I’m not alone when I tell people about God’s plan of salvation through Jesus. God is with me, but he is also working in the other person’s heart. So many times, people, including myself, lack confidence in sharing their faith. The good news is, God will always tell me what to say when I need to say it.

An ambassador is an official representative on behalf of one country to another. As believers, we are Christ's ambassadors, sent with his message of reconciliation to the world. An ambassador of reconciliation has an important responsibility. We dare not take this responsibility lightly. How well am I fulfilling my commission as Christ's ambassador?