You never know when God might use you unexpectedly. But if there’s one thing I know, God uses pain for good.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
On a Sunday some time ago, the worship service ended as it always does, with our pastor offering for anyone in need of prayer to come to the altar to pray with one of the altar ministers. I had long felt a tug at my spirit to offer my time as an altar minister but hadn’t pursued it. I always listened to others’ prayers and never felt mine were as eloquent or as poised or powerful.
Yet on this particular Sunday, the need was great. Every available altar minister was busy praying, and others were waiting in line to receive prayer. The altar ministry coordinator came over and asked, “Michelle, will you pray?”
Without hesitation, I answered, “Of course!”
God sees your pain
No sooner did I walk up to the altar, and a sweet lady approached in tears. She shared that she had been battling depression and was struggling to trust God. I smiled, as I looked into her eyes and relayed, “He sees you. He loves you. It’s no accident that you are standing before me today. I’ve been exactly where you are, and He has brought me out on the other side…”
Her eyes, while still glistening from tears, brightened because she knew I understood her pain. She knew she could trust me with her hurts as together we cried and brought her brokenness to God in prayer.
Years ago I suffered through a painful bout of major depression. It was so bad that much like Job, Jonah, and David, I cried out to God that if that was all my life was going to amount to, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go on living. BUT if He chose not to take me home, then I wanted my experience with depression to count for something.
I wanted Him to use my pain. I wanted Him to be true to His word in Genesis 50:20 and use what the enemy intended for evil for something good: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”
How God used my pain for good
When I was in the valley of depression, you would have been hard-pressed to convince me that anything good would come from that experience. But that time made me press in deeper to my relationship with God. It showed me there was purpose for our pain.
It also gave me a deeper level of understanding and compassion for others who walk through that dark valley and feel alone.
Through it, He taught me the importance of addressing the spiritual aspects of depression in order to find true help, hope, and healing.
And now that He has brought me out to the other side, He often gives me the opportunity to offer the same comfort to others that He offered to me.
Blessed be 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 have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
Some things are difficult to relate to unless you have been through them personally. Depression is one of them. Now that I’ve walked that dark and lonely valley, I have much greater understanding and compassion for others who are walking that road.
My heart goes out to them from a place of knowing. While our experience may be different, I can relate on a level of shared pain and I can enter in from a perspective of “Me too!” that I never could have if I had not traveled that road myself.
Walking with another in their pain is a beautiful thing, and it brings beauty for our own ashes. It’s what allows Jesus to sympathize with our suffering.
If you are going through a difficult time today, let me encourage you that God sees. He is with you, and He will use it for your good and for His glory. Our experiences qualify us for His service.
God uses your pain for good. Your pain is never wasted.
Prayer for the hurting heart
May I pray for you?
Dear Heavenly Father,
You know the hurts and the cries of the one reading this page right now. You see the tears and you know the pain. It is written that you are near to the brokenhearted and you save those who are crushed in spirit. I ask now, Lord, that you would be especially close to your child who is hurting. That you would extend comfort, and lend shelter under your wing. That you would renew their strength. And that by your sovereign hand, you would bring good from whatever the enemy intended for evil, and that you would bring beauty for the painful ashes they are enduring. Comfort even now so that one day they may comfort others with the same comfort you offer now. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study offer hope for overcoming depression.
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Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the new companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand: how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
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Thank you ! <3
I think you are the perfect person for that, may I also tell you that sometimes what people are calling depression can also be grief. My mother prayed for me and I had a spiritual dream that she was taking a baby ( her baby, me ) away from a woman in a shroud, a spirit of grief. It doesn’t have to be death,this was more about things I missed. And to make the dream clear to me the Lord let me see her wearing a black and white shirt, with a rose. I am careful about just any dream interpretation books, but there are a some good Christian ones out there. I know you be able to pray for many people and bless them.
Thank you so much for sharing this very timely post as I am going through a difficult season in the health department which is causing anxiety.
I never thought about that very well-read verse in the manner in which you shared it. I think I always thought about it from Joseph’s very perspective, that someone had done something to him. I never thought about it that any type of suffering, as in the case of Job, through family loss, health difficulties, Satan will use to cause us to doubt God.
This fresh insight brought me such encouragement today to see what the enemy wants for evil, God can bring about for good by His power through me.
Blessings,
So difficult when our faith is testing so strongly. I have to remind myself that the enemy is planting lies because it becomes very emotional and draining when we spend time angry with the Lord and questioning his plans. thanks, Visiting from Holley Gerths!
I recently read the best quote I’ve heard in a long time on the pain of this world:
“The evils of life can be justified if we recognize that the world was primarily created to be a place where people find God and grow spiritually into all they were designed to be.”
It came from a book by Tim Keller but was quoted in a book on dementia in the aging.
This changes my whole perspective on God’s purpose for the good and the evil.
Oh, what a wonderful story of being able to minister to someone else directly because of what you’ve been through. I need more of that kind of courage! I love how God uses these trials in life for GOOD. Thanks so much for sharing!
The God on the mountain is the same God in the valley, praise God for this, and praise God He takes what the enemy meant for evil, and uses it for His good. God is good!
I am your neighbor today at Women Helping Women link up. God bless you
Such a great word. Thanks for your inspiring post. Truly I believe God allow us to go through difficulties not just for our self, but that through our journey we can understand and minister to others in similar situations. Not just for our good but for his purpose also.
I needed these words today and I needed the pray you shared. Thank you for your encouragement, your understanding, and your supportive posts. God bless.
Thank you for sharing your encouragement, both here, and wherever the Lord takes you! I am praying for you to have God’s Words of comfort to share as you touch the lives of so many suffering through dark days. I know that I have been encouraged! Blessed to be your neighbor over at #TuneInThursday this week!
What a touching story, God is so amazing… He never ceases to amaze me, I love hearing these stories. Thanks for stepping up and thanks for sharing your story. Visiting for Salt and Light Link up, pinned to a few boards. Many Thanks! 8)
It is so incredible when God uses our pain for good. We all go through that valley and when we can remember that He will use our darkest moments to help others, we can move through that valley and know that no matter how difficult it becomes, God will turn it into something good. Thank you so much for sharing this today!
Michelle – Thank you for being willing to use your pain for good. I loved hearing your story about how the lady in church. It didn’t surprise me one bit, God is good. When we first started down a very painful journey of have a child with mental illness my husband and I kept saying to each other this can’t be for nothing. We must bring good out of it. I am so grateful for the people that have gone before me that helped me along the way. I am thrilled to be able to give back and let my experiences help others. Blessings, Maree Dee
What a wonderful story of the way you were able to minister directly to that sweet lady at church. Love the way you always offer hope to people!
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
Oh, this is so good Dr. Michelle! I just received a message from a hurting heart so I will share this with her and she will know that Father will use her pain and depression for her good and His glory. I so appreciate how you share your heart and your life with all of us. I know you suffer pain and could easily retreat into yourself but you never do, you always share what the Lord is showing you and has shown you so that we can be encouraged and comforted! Thank you for loving the Lord and loving us so well. YOU are a great blessing in my life and so many others!!! Praying for you every day!!!
Yes! It often surprises me how many people I encounter who are going through identical difficulties I’ve had to endure in the past. It is such a blessing to be able to minister grace and hope to others BECAUSE of my own suffering. Sometimes the knowledge that God has a plan and purpose for my suffering, that He can use it for His good and glory doesn’t seem to help in the hardest moments. We just want DELIVERANCE from the pain. But when we endure and He brings that first encounter with someone who needs to hear our story… it’s a beautiful thing.
Thank you for this beautiful post. I know God uses my pain for others almost every day and it makes me so thankful that I can use my pain to point others to Him
This is so so so good! My tough times have allowed me empathy and compassion – no suffering is ever wasted in God’s plan! x
I loved reading this one for a second time. Yes, God uses our pain. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Link-Up. Maree