Convert your Pain into Promise!

It has been granted to you that, for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake. (Philippians 1:29)

If you suffer with Him, you will also reign with Him—in this life, and in the life to come!

Spiritual distress, also known as spiritual suffering, may occur in situations where religious beliefs and practices, fail to provide meaning, or have a negative meaning of feeling you have been abandoned by God; or when your illness experience, contradicts your core beliefs.

Here is a quote taken from the book, The Shack, that I find so, so comforting, where God talks with a grieving father:

Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something, means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors. God doesn’t cause suffering, but He does respond to it with goodness.

Suffering is the persecution we experience, while endeavoring to live a righteous lifestyle. It causes us to know Him more intimately, because of our union and sharing of the suffering He endured.

Suffering is a product of fallen mankind—a consequence of human sin against God.

Suffering is part of our lives because we are living in a broken world. Some suffering is due to our sinful and wrong choices, but some is due simply to the world being fallen.

Suffering creates uncommon faith and shapes & builds authentic love in a world desperate…for both.

As terrible as suffering is now, we must keep an eternal perspective in mind. Paul understood this when he said that we should rejoice in our sufferings, because it produces endurance, character, and ultimately hope.

“The world has fallen and can’t get up—
until you CONVERT your pain!”

RAISE YOURSELF TO LIFE!

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To him be the power for ever and ever.” (1 Peter 5)