Extreme Pain
The most difficult place to keep moving forward in faith is the place of extreme pain.
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5
Extreme pain, especially emotional pain, can become immobilizing to the human spirit if it is ALLOWED to overcome us.
The psalmist tells us there is only one remedy for overcoming painful circumstances that WILL result in joy.
*** We are to SOW in the midst of these extreme painful times.
We cannot do this if we live by feelings alone. It is an act of the will. This act requires that we go outside ourselves in pure FAITH.
2 Corinthians 12:9? “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, THAT the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
I learned this principle during a few of the deepest periods of my life. I had lost much that was dear to me and my Faith seemed to slip.
***A mature man in the faith challenged me to reach out to others, listen and look for the ones hurting in spite of my own pain.
**”Invest in someone else, life is not all about “the ME” he said.
I did not realize what a PLACE of Healing and Comfort that would become. It took my eyes off of my extreme pain and circumstances and put my Eyes on Jesus, trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:6).
Pain can become a source of joy if we take the first step by planting seed. There is a harvest that will come if we sow in the midst of tears.
Psalm 146:3-5. “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But JOYFUL are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”
The path from the Valley of Pain!
*Prayer. It’s not books, TV or radio, it’s communication with God.
Many times, we are told to simply wait!
* Praise. Worshiping. If we can’t praise Him in a valley, we have no business praising Him on the mountain.
* Practice. Walking with the Lord. Do the will of God.
We will waste our valleys if…
* …we don’t believe it was designed for us by God.
*…we think it’s a curse, not a gift.
* …we spend too much time reading about our valleys, and not enough time reading about Christ.
* …we grieve as we have no hope.
* …we fail to use our valleys as a way to show the glory of God.
When we “stuff” disappointments, these buried resentments can cause us to act exactly the opposite of how we want to act.
“…for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”Romans 7:15
Bringing Praises to our Father in the middle of even the worst Pains and Trials, brings much Glory to our Father and shows us and let’s others see that we REALLY do believe God is in Control and we Trust that His perfect Will—will be done on earth as in Heaven!! Praise God!
Psalm 34:1. I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is. 3 of 8)
3) I sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to show me what I need to do and empower me to follow through in obedience.
Result: I am released from my need to control everything.
Word: I am “Free”
Verse: Jeremiah 9:23,24. “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practice steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”
Lord, may my life be aligned with your will, that I can have You as my helper and my confidence, trust and hope always in You. AMEN