God Doesn't Waste Our Pain

When we experience difficult, painful times in our lives, we might wonder why God is allowing it or what good could ever come out of it. I recently heard a good perspective by a pastor which provides hope and reassurance during such situations. He said: "God doesn't waste our pain". Only we can waste it by giving up, giving in, becoming bitter, and running away from God instead of toward Him.

With that concept in mind, we can choose to look at our suffering, our pain or our trials with the reassurance that God will indeed work it out for the good, even if we can't see how it is possible or conceivable right now. Let us look at some encouraging examples of God's faithfulness in this truth from the bible.

God didn't waste Jesus's pain on the cross. Jesus never sinned. He never did anything wrong, yet he suffered in this physical realm. After Jesus suffered, God raised him up from the dead and sat him at His right hand. We read in ‭1 Peter 3:18,

"Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit."

‭We continue in verse 22,
"Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority."

Let us look at more examples in the bible.

God didn't waste Joseph's suffering. God raised him to the position of Pharaoh's right hand man so that he could save many lives during the famine as we see in Genesis 37 to 50.

God didn't waste Apostle Paul's suffering. God raised him up to spread the gospel, not only throughout the region, but also to billions of people through his writings in the New Testament. And through those writings, he provides us encouragement in our suffering and trials.

God didn't waste David's pain in being relentlessly pursued in the desert by Saul. God raised him up to write the encouraging book of Psalms to comfort us and encourage us through our suffering.

God didn't waste Esther's pain of being taken away from her home into the King's harem. God raised her up to be Queen so she could save the lives of her people.

God will do the same with our pain, suffering and trials. It all leads to dwelling with Him in the Kingdom. Through the pain, God uses the opportunity to shape us, teach us, develop us and direct us.

We read in ‭Isaiah 64:8,

"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

One bible commentator stated,
"Just as a potter shapes clay into a vessel of purpose and beauty, so too does God shape our lives, molding us through experiences and challenges."

God takes EVERY challenge in our life and uses it to our benefit. As Apostle Paul tells us in
Romans 8:28, 31-32,

"We know that in ALL things (not some things) God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose...What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

Jesus didn't escape suffering, persecution, rejection, sadness, or mourning. God allowed it all for a greater purpose. Why should we expect anything different for ourselves? Not only should we expect pain and suffering, but we should also expect a glorious outcome at the culmination of this life. Just as Jesus was richly rewarded, so will we.

The Lord reassures us in Jeremiah 29:11,
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As we journey through this life with that promised future awaiting us, God is also using our painful experiences to develop our compassion and empathy for others. We read in ‭2 Corinthians 1:3-4,
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

Even when we experience tragic loss or pain in our lives, it's not wasted when we use that experience to comfort others and to share our understanding of what they are experiencing. Through our pain, we have been equipped with that ability to reach them, serve them, comfort them and point them to God's love, mercy, comfort and faithfulness.

‭Let us conclude with encouraging words from Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18,

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

As we endure pain or are healing from past pain, we must hold on to the truth that God doesn't waste our pain. He didn't waste it on Jesus, Joseph, Paul, David, Esther or countless others...and He will not waste it on any of us.