Purpose in the Pain

Abundance does not come exclusively from finding a volume of exquisite beauty; it's more about the quality of our experience. Moving beyond the pain of trauma means embracing more in our relationship with ourselves and God. Learning life lessons that satisfy your longing to savor a sacred experience with the Holy Trinity; Heavenly Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit—is possible.

My fingers flow as I open wide my inner landscape as my human spirit finds union with the Holy Trinity. Seeing a picture of a timeless winding river with its tributaries cascading toward majestic mountains sparkling in the color of creativity, His voice rings out in wisdom to be discovered. A copious deluge of living water is released. Can you hear it? Listen to the waters within your heart and find that even sound of creation transforming into patterns of God’s eminently of perpetual worship as a song dancing upon the earth.

Eph. 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”

Check out the end of this verse, “according to the power that works in us”. How do you or I get there? It’s not at all as today’s culture would see it – a doggy-doggy battle of the wills and position. No, quite the opposite, it’s by receiving a position of open receptivity towards life and the resources already given us by a Heavenly Father. Welcome He who delights more than we can imagine to walk with us, enjoying our joy, and infused with the essence of our true and God-given design.  

How can we receive this good into our lives, not also receive the problems, as well? Do you find yourself concluding to only receive what is ‘good’ and avoid facing the potential of any tragedies or loss? Is this the best we can hope for to just get a ‘pass’ on issues or situations along this journey and settle for mediocre and daily drudge?

Most of us initially squirm away from the pain and try and abort the risk of learning from the experience, rather than to hang on until real breakthrough comes. Pain hurts – but it too is a messenger.

There have been times when I too have given room to resentment, bitterness, and fear incapacitating my sight to a larger possibility. Left with repeating patterns of difficulty seem to cycle around the same mountain without change. This entrenched ‘cyclical’ thinking and unhealthy belief system harvests death. Add to it, bitterness and a sense of loss and our initiative is impaled, rather than spurring us on in greater promise of a future. But what if God could bring a unique and personal word to you, right in the midst of devastation? This is what I’ve come to understand as purposeful pain.

Perhaps you are in a part-time job which seems pointless, except for the extra cash it contributes to the household needs. Is there a possibility God has placed you there for your personal growth or another’s benefit? Could it be you’re there to shine His love into some people’s hearts merely by a kind interaction of service to their needs? Perhaps the land on which the company sits needs prayer and cleansing? Is a fellow employee meant to teach you a different way of seeing yourself, them or something else?

Revelations 3:18

I challenge you is to open wide the door of your heart and ask God to bring His light and truth into every crack and corner of whatever difficult situation you’re in. It may feel a bit scary, weird, or humdrum but be intentional in asking and waiting to hear an answer from God. Then, ask Him to open the ‘eyes of understanding’ (Eph. 1:18).

In 1994, when God gave the green light to relocate to Houston, Texas, I was offered a job in the Emergency Department (ED). My shift was Thursday through Saturday (3 PM-3AM). For those of you who may have worked an ED, you know that that is the toughest shift there is, both the days of the week and the hours of the day. It was tough. My question to the Lord was, “what on earth are you sending me to that job for?”. My training was in Intensive Care, not emergency. He came back with a striking statement, “I’m taking you to the front door of healthcare, so that I can introduce you to MY children.”  I learned much more than can be written in this blog, but my ‘alert’ button was on from that point forward to learn who and what these children of His were meant to teach me.

Each of us has been given a particular set of assets and life experiences. We cannot afford to miss what the insights and treasure buried deep within our story as it unfolds. It’s in the middle of life situations where we are given an opportunity to learn and gain from life’s purposeful pain, there are layers of abundant life yet to be discovered and lived out!

My prayer for you - May the beauty of His care and instruction infuse you, spirit, soul, and body with the wealth of His light so that you radiate with the joy in sync with the King’s agenda. Amen