Pain Can Lead to Gain

Growing Stronger Through Suffering and Pain

Hatred for God’s People Some people hated Jesus , too

The Pain of our Jewish Neighbors Now

• "There is a bomb in one of the children's backpacks and it's going to detonate shortly," one said.

• "The Jews will be decimated," a voice warned.

• 100 Threats in two months!

• Thousands of Jewish children and parents targeted…in America.

-Job 5:7

“People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.”

All Christians Suffer

• “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

• “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Tim. 3:12)

• "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)

• “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jesus in John 16:33)

“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release… Others suffered mocking and

flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they

were killed with the sword.

They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in

deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Heb. 11:32-38)

If God Loves Me…

Why Am I in so much Pain?

Losing Fathers, Mothers, Friends & Betrayal by Those You Trusted

Not feeling Wanted or Loved

Deep Grief, Depression and Molestation

Knowing Keeps Us Going with God

• Pain without purpose -> despair and rebellion

• So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.” (Ex. 6:9)

• “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild…” (Prov. 29:18)

Man’s Search for Meaning By Dr. Viktor Frankl

• If they found meaning in their suffering, they lived.

• “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

• "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing-- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way…In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Character

• Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”~~ Helen Keller

Gains from Pains

• You learn more about God: Ps. 119:71: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”

• “If I’d never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them…” ( Andre Crouch in Through It All)

• Heb. 5:8: “Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered”

• You learn how to comfort others: 2 Cor. 1:4: “ He 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.”

Gains from Pains

• Suffering can show us our need for God.

• “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." ( 2 For. 12:8-9)

• Our suffering can bring glory to God:

• Job: His trust in God brought glory to God in heaven & hell

• Jesus: But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities…” (Is. 53:5)

• Paul: “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Gain in Pain

• You don’t know what you believe until you have to

• No pain, no gain

• Our greatest trials give us our greatest triumphs

• You will never understand some things about God or yourself until you are desperate

• Great pain can produce a clarity of thought, a grasp of truth and a gratitude for almost everything that is more precious than the lack of pain.

But What If You Don’t Understand?

-Bill Johnson

"In heaven, there will not be any pain, confusion or loss. So I embrace my moment of

pain and give Him praise in the midst of it, because that is an offering I will never get

to give Him in heaven.".