August 19 , 2007

There is not one person in the Bible that we know much about

that did not go through a painful experience.

Myths: 1. “Just get over it! You shouldn't feel that way. It wasn't a big deal.”

2. “If I ignore my pain, it will go away.”

What can I do with pain?

1. Accept the fact that there will be pain in your life.

Peter: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13, NIV).

2. God wants you to discover the cause so you can find relief.

Though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food.

Though there are no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls.

Y et I will rejoice in the Lord . I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

He enables me to go on the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NIV).

3. Never discount your Godly resources.

God says, For I know the plan s I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11, NIV).

4. Develop a godly conscience .

Paul wrote: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace (2 Cor 1:12-13, NIV).

5. Keep regrets to a minimum through understanding the value of keeping your plan of staying emotionally healthy.

Paul wrote: Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith (1 Tim 1:18-20, NIV).

Keep a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:16-17, NIV).

6. Keep the good routines of life.

7. Learn to see life's humor in big and small ways. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength (Pr 17:22).

8. Experiment with different pain relievers until you find what works for you.

9. Adopt habits of good interests, reading, rest and exercise that will help you live with less pain.

10. Realize that pain is a motivator.

Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways (Pr. 20:30 (GN) .

11. Painful experiences can be part of a grand design of God for good, if we'll be faithful to God. You people intended to harm me, but God intended it for good  . . . ” (Gen 50:20, NIV).

12. You can become a “wounded healer” to encourage others – and see purpose for your pain. Paul wrote that a painful experience happened so we might learn to trust , not in ourselves, but in God   (1 Cor. 1:9 (Ph) .

Paul to the Romans: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing

with the glory that will be revealed in us (8:18, NIV).

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