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! 

My Strength Comes From The Lord.

In review of Isaiah 40:31 it says, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Bottom Line:

Trust in the Lord to find new strength, one which makes you ride hide, walk and run without getting faint or weary.

What this means to me:

When I learn to trust in the Lord I will find new strength. I’ll be riding high, walk and not get faint, even run and not be weary.

Today’s verse comes from Isaiah 40. Isaiah reminds us that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fail in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. The will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

I'm reminded this morning that even the strongest people get tired at times, but God's power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. His strength is my source of strength. So If I feel that all of life's crushing me and cannot go another step, I can call upon God to renew me.

Trusting in the Lord is expecting that his promise of strength will help me rise above life's distractions and difficulties. Do I really believe God loves me and wants the best for me? Can I relax, confident that his purposes are right? Am I convinced that he has the power to control all of life, including my own. Though my faith may be struggling or weak, I can accept his provisions and care.

I’m also reminded that as gold is refined in fire, the righteous are refined in the furnace of adversity. The brightest crowns being worn in heaven today have been refined and polished, glorified through the furnace of tribulation.

So when I find myself in the middle of the fire, I can know that God has a blessing coming my way. Stand firm!

Adversity doesn’t make me weak or strong, rather it reveals who I really am deep down inside when nobody’s looking. Wait upon the Lord and He will sustain me. He will renew me. His strength will be with me until my last breath on this earth.