Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 2:3-4
In a moment, my life stopped. I thought I knew the direction that my life was supposed to go. I knew there would be a time of waiting, but I committed to use the time to prepare for the upcoming season. Then, as I answered the phone expecting to hear the affirmation of what I had been feeling inside, I was utterly deflated. I was way off base about what the next season of my life was going to be. For the rest of the day, I did the best I could to fulfill my commitments, but truth be told, I was numb and lost on what was happening.
This feeling is not unique to me. Eventually, we will all be shocked by some life event we never saw coming. Regardless of why we are in this season, we must realize that God wants to use these hurts to further His kingdom. God wants to use us to show the world that even though we are His, we are not immune from struggle and strife. More significant than that, he wants us to speak to the world that Jesus wasn't immune from these feelings either.
The reality of Christianity that is continually affirmed to me is that Jesus promises there will be storms in this life. This life is going to beat and batter us, and as cliche as it sounds, no one makes it out alive. However, the hardship of life doesn't have to leave us defeated. Instead, we can take our pain and give it a purpose. We can thank God for letting us go through these trials because they allow us to find others in the same season and minister to one another.
Given the choice, I would not choose to feel what I am feeling. However, I know that God has been with me through every season, and He promises not to leave me now. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future. Knowing that, I can rest knowing my job is to move forward in faith because God will use this season to bring Him glory. God will give my pain a purpose and provide people who will be comforted by my story.
I don't know where you are spiritually as you are reading this. If you feel like you are in a storm, know rain waters flowers. If you feel like you are going through hell, know fire refines gold. If you feel like there is no reason to keep trying, know there is only one reason we should keep going: Jesus. No matter how hard life gets, always remember, God gives pain a purpose.
Who could be comforted by the story of our pain?