When something such as grief comes along, and strips away all aspects of who you are and everything you think life is about, all that can possibly remain is your soul. Since God can use evil for good (Genesis 50:20, John 3:16), we can know that whatever happens to … Sometimes it is merely the fallout from living in mortal, imperfect bodies in a fallen, broken world. But somehow, through all of Paul’s pain and suffering he learned “Your Pain Has A Purpose.” Whatever you’re going through today that seems unbearable, just hold on. It has been four years since I went through a time of loss, four years since everything I knew and loved disappeared from my life. We are driven by the demands of life and not realizing that God always has a greater purpose. The answer lies in so many things — for instance, finding support, allowing yourself to grieve and to live and move and breathe in it for a while, and working on accepting the reality of what is. Sometimes I go back to visit the chairs, and each time I do, I see the families and couples spending time in them and I’m reminded that something greater is at work here, that through the pain there can be joy, and somehow, through heartbreak, love again. Your faith moved you beyond the experience itself and through the higher purpose you found, you freed and strengthened your spirit. All Rights Reserved. Find your own passion, take action to address the four key factors listed above, and notice how having a purpose in your life transforms your mental health and sense of well-being. His purposes not only encompass our lives, but the lives of those around us—at home, school, work, and community. In The Problem of Pain, C.S. 76. Pain is an opportunity not for God to see how strong you are, but for you to see how strong you are. Don't give up! For me to think of my past self still alive today with the unimaginable having occurred is too much to process some days. But after experiencing loss and going through a time of grief, I know the soul to be a reality. One of the side benefits of pain is the incredible maturation process that helps anyone who’s ever had to walk through pain for an extended amount of time. Don’t let the confusion of your pain cloud the clarity of the purpose it can serve in your life. Here are some of the key steps I suggest to get started exploring your purpose. These changes might or might not be the cause of your pain. Loss is not just in the immediacy of it, but in all the reverberating ways in which it affects you and your life. There were many times when I wanted to give up. Its understanding that there is a larger picture at work in our lives and that it may be beyond our own understanding. He needs you to leverage what is for what could be. Separate the Pain from the Purpose. However, the body also has an inbuilt mechanism for overcoming pain when it is no longer useful: endorphins. The prevalence of phantom pain in upper limb amputees is nearly 82%, and in lower limb amputees is 54%. And I must admit that I miss the grief that I once felt so deeply, as it was also so much tied with memories of the person I lost. The pain of practices, injuries and the grind of a season is all worth it when a team holds up that championship trophy. On the other, it feels a bit odd to live without feeling grief so intensely. It might be beyond what you can immediately understand, but one day you will know it. Being a three year old gives you full license to pitch a fit when you don’t get your way. It's not just a popular Bible verse read at weddings. God has a purpose in it. It felt like I was a world away, living in a different realm, barely hanging on to this one. And then you run three. This pain often reflects things in us that He needs us to see and ask for assistance to change in order for us to move towards the place He wants us to be. “Pain introduces you to your highest self.” – Paul Domenick. We would like to thank David C Cook for providing this plan. If you wanted to see how much weight you could bench press at the gym, the only way to find that out would be to continue to put on more and more weight until you discovered your threshold, your limit. He wants your suffering to find meaning. There's purpose in your storm. And in Christ, you are much stronger than you think. He wants you to be brave. Our Pain Has a Greater Purpose I believe there is a side to suffering we miss when we focus solely on our pain rather than on God’s greater purpose. If you lived a life completely without pain, there would be a void in your life, a void only filled through the experience that pain gives you. If a disk is normal, there's little pain during the injection. A pain scale is a tool that doctors use to help assess a person’s pain. When you’re tested through the fires of pain, what’s forged on the other side is perseverance, endurance. But as God’s Word says, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God,” and we have to stand on this truth. Because my pain—the pain of not being seen for who I really was—became my purpose—seeing others and their limitless potential. Your pain management doctor acts as the lead in your pain management plan. It was placed in our favorite section of the park. Take comfort and solace in the timeless words of James 1:2-4, and discover the purpose behind your pain. Emptiness. Alcohol or drugs are, of course, a way of alleviating psychological discord, but at the same time, they can be seen as a way of gaining a very basic sense of purpose: to satisfy your addiction. Pain has a purpose. That kind of process leads to a maturity found through no other process. Gages Lake Bible Church. In the midst of pain that will not leave, you might be able to discover at least part of the purpose your pain has. Think about two college students and decide which one you think is more prepared for the real world of life. Hopelessness. Fear, and above all, darkness — the type where death felt as if it would be the only reprieve. The first college student didn’t have an easy childhood. There is sadness in life and then there are sorrows — some sorrows for which there are no words. Your pain has a purpose James 1:2-4, NIV Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. When we share our pain with other people, we get the opportunity to be of service. We all can find common ground in suffering. In the midst of pain that will not leave, you might be able to discover at least part of the purpose your pain has. Some days it feels as if a new person has emerged. In the same way, pain expands your endurance and gives you the herculean ability to persevere through even the most difficult of circumstances. If you’re training to run a marathon for the first time, you don’t start out by running a marathon. This is going to sound strange, but sometimes it helps to think of my past life and my past self as dead. This is the nature of love — it never stops believing, never stops hoping. The purpose of pain is not to punish you. I am not the same person. However over time, the grief has lessened. We have established that pain is a key part of natural selection, and that those who take notice of and respect the meaning of pain will be those most likely to survive to reproduce and pass on their genes. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, NIV). While life may have felt empty or meaningless at times, the truth is that it never was — every moment of your life with the person you lost was filled with meaning, filled with a purpose for you to know that life is all about love. There is a side to… I am here to say that it can be done. 8. Over time, your body builds up the endurance necessary to handle the herculean task of running a full marathon. Is there a way you can take what you have been through and walk with others going through similar experiences? Often we just ignore these signals until they scream so loud we can't. Sunday PM, October 18th, 2009. Suffering reminds us we cannot go it alone nor do we need to go it alone. How else could life continue on like this? You run a mile. The work in your grief then, is to begin to uncover and to create greater meaning of from the pain and what it means for your … These are lessons that can be learned only in the classroom of suffering, and only the student enrolled there is … Without pain, you would neglect your need for saving and salvation. For more information, please visit: http://www.dccpromo.com/beauty-mark/ Intro: There is no tougher dilemma in the Christian life than the problem of pain. This blog is about her journey with grief. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. For most of my life, I believed the soul to be a hypothetical abstraction. It is not related to your circumstances, it is related to how you think. The purpose of your pain may not come immediately. There is sadness. They are no more. Put your confidence in the Lord and fight your battles through prayers. 1 Peter 4:12-19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. The world is crowded but there’s always a room for you. It is difficult to describe that kind of loss and the grief that comes with it. However, the body also has an inbuilt mechanism for overcoming pain when it is no longer useful: endorphins. ". Spirituality is different than religion — its understanding that we are all connected to each other deeply. Read on Mobile Enter Reading Mode "God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggles and a reward for your faithfulness. How can we overcome pain? It’s not. Neither time nor space, nor life or death can change it. When James talks about the trials of life he describes them as a test, but not so God can see how strong you are. I also talk a lot about how to find life purpose and meaning in my new book, Outsmart Your Smartphone. When Pain Has A Purpose. When James says that perseverance will lead to completeness, he’s referring to a fuller scope and understanding of life that only pain can teach you. God already knows that. Death, divorce, separation, and loss are among the most stressful events in life. 9. God has a purpose for your pain (Daily Quote) God has a purpose for your pain. During the discogram, you'll be asked to describe and rate your pain. In the same way, pain is the only way to truly discover how strong you really are. Don’t give up!" That kind of process leads to a maturity found through no other process. Regardless of the source of the pain, God wants to use your pain to accomplish a greater purpose. Which one of the two seems better prepared for the real world? Without an understanding of God's sovereignty over our pain, we cannot understand the meaning of our suffering. Loss taught me an important lesson: that life is finite —to savor time with loved ones and to be present in the moment. For me to be here now and to walk around the corner and to almost expect things as they once were is too painful. The Purpose of Your Pain. You discover your own strength. When perseverance finishes its work you are mature, and maturity helps you see the world differently. There's purpose in your problems. Eckhart Tolle was invited as a guest on Oprah’s web classes to discuss the pain body. A leper will sometimes wear away a wounded part of his body because he feels no pain. When we remain faithful to him, then he rewards us; God’s brewing up a greater purpose that will outlast your pain, but He needs you to open your eyes and see it. Maybe it’s a relationship that’s causing you pain, other family members unable to get a handle on life and you’re left suffering the collateral damage. The quote in this post was originally posted by user GSnow on Reddit in a thread in which a woman asked for advice on how to cope with the recent death of her best friend. It’s important to know and live out the following Bible verses about purpose: It all seemed so important at the time, and yet all along life was about something else all along, something so much deeper. We must pursue purpose that will outlast our pain. He is molding you. While our culture gets stuck in their problems, you can transcend them as you make your way to sovereign Lord. Maybe it’s a sickness that has lingered far too long. 10. Our loved ones never leave us. It's about finding hope. Perhaps it’s a job that drains you or a boss whose only aim in life is to make you miserable. The Purpose of Pain Hebrews 11:32-40 Delivered 03/22/15. Today I am a secret keeper, a guide, a catalyst to radical change in others because of my capacity to make space for that change without judgment. See, what I want you to get right now is that there's purpose in your pain. Your life purpose consists of the central motivating aims of your life—the reasons you get up in the morning.Purpose can guide life decisions, influence behavior, shape goals, offer a sense of direction, and create meaning. As a post on ZocDoc explains: “The discipline is multidisciplinary, meaning that you don’t just see a doctor but also will likely have the opportunity to interact with a physical therapist and a counselor. Phantom pain is pain felt in a part of the body that has been amputated, or from which the brain no longer receives signals.It is a type of neuropathic pain. Without pain, you would too easily forget your need for God. PAIN INSTRUCTS US. Whatever pain or sufferings you’ve gone through or are currently going through, remember that God has a purpose for everything, which includes your hurt. Viktor Emil Frankl gave his most famous line when he said, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstance, but only by lack of meaning and purpose”. We know this because there is no amount of money or objects or status or security that can bring back the person you love, nothing that can turn back time. For others, their purpose lies in their responsibilities to their family or friends. My experience is that most people have some deep pain. There is no easy way to build up endurance. Paul Young. It's also learning to live with grief, and finding meaning and purpose in the face of pain. “Your Pain Has A Purpose!” P-rayer: Dear Jesus, I thank You for my trials and the times I didn’t know what to do. God sees our pain and has a crown of life waiting in store for those of us who believe. Join my mailing list to receive blog posts, and latest updates in your inbox. There is a protecting purpose of pain. Despite their circumstances, they ultimately find hope and joy and will inspire you to do the same, no matter what hardships you may be facing today. So often when we experience painful situations in our life, our first resort is to question God. Dr. Eleora Han is a writer and psychologist. Your perspective has changed because you have matured over the years. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4, NIV). If you’ve ever struggled with trying to find a purpose behind your pain, then you need to read this. One study found that eight days after amputation, 72% of patients had phantom limb pain, and six months later, 67% reported it. Doing this will help you deepen your understanding of yourself and guide you more fully toward the person you want to become though this experiences, and the life you want to live. Along the way they developed a resiliency born from their discovery of the strength within them overcome. There are always reasons for your pain, and the Christian is the only one who can come close to understanding these purposes. The energy, attention, love, and care which they put into us can never be replaced — it added to our light and is always there. Pain's value is too great." your pain has a purpose Archived. I’m not going to lie and act like it’s easy. Meaning/Explanation - God sends pain and struggles in our life to make us learn a few secrets of life. So to develop your own personal meaning through loss, ask yourself what the lesson in it might be. Everything happened for a reason. He wants to transform your scars into beautiful marks of victory. 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