Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- July 24, 2013
Someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones, so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal… Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright… let their flesh be renewed like a child’s.. Job 33:19-20, 23, 25.
A variety of fruits can be produced out of pain. One is the clear understanding of what breaks the heart of God. Sin may surface through the sift of suffering that invites genuine contrition, confession and repentance. Pain can be a symptom of a wound, self inflicted or inflicted from an unfair situation or an insensitive person. So, whether sin has entered the heart from the inside or out, it requires attention or it will erode the soul. Distress that draws us to God purifies our heart.
Another fruit of pain is instruction from the Lord. It is an opportunity for God to instruct His children in a better way. A human being on his back is much more teachable than an individual running to and fro in frantic activity. We look up to heaven when we lie down face up, leveled by the forces of physical and/or emotional upheaval. Yes, our loving Heavenly Father whispers intimate instruction to His loved ones who listen to His voice. Pain gives insight into God.
Jesus said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Matthew 26:38
Our Heavenly Father’s comfort is yet another outcome of suffering under the yoke of pain. As we cry out in desperate dependence on Him He assures us of His presence. It may be our Savior’s silent reassurance: His speaking through another sincere saint, His calming us with a change in circumstance or soothing our soul with Scripture. The Lord is not limited in His long arm of care and comfort. Our pain is His opportunity to apply His healing balm of love.
Above all, see pain as a pass through for the grace of God in your life. Your challenges become a conduit to care for other hurting hearts. Your energy is not consumed by your cares alone, but out of the depths of personal hurt you are able to bring the spirit of your sympathizing Savior Jesus to others. You consume the fruit of pain with your hungry heart and by faith your fruitful spirit feeds others who feel out of favor with God. Thus, out of your pain invite the Spirit to cleanse your heart, learn from the Lord’s instruction, enjoy Christ’s sweet comfort and comfort other hurting hearts.
He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed. Genesis 5:29
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for meeting me in my pain with Your conviction, Your instruction and Your comfort. Use me to comfort others with Christ’s love.
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 6:29; Job 6:10; Psalm 38:6-8, 69:29; Hebrews 12:11; 1 Peter 2:19
Post/Tweet today: Invite the Spirit to cleanse your heart, and comfort other hurting hearts. #freedup
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© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
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How can God be the sender of pain? God is BLESSING. The devil is cursing (pain).
the fruit of pain is one of the best devotions you have put out. thank you
God does not send pain.. but we being of flesh bring pain into our lives… then we have to endure pain in order to birth the holiness we need to walk in. Sometimes it can be as simple has giving up something that we like to do or eat because it’s not good for us. Sometimes is can be more painful like breaking away from something we love because it is not of God and we know it deep down inside. But either way it is not of God but of what we allow into our lives.