Good Can Come from Pain

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28) 
 
Have you ever found yourself asking God this question, “Lord, how can any good come from this pain I’m dealing with?” Maybe you went on to say, “I thought You loved me. Why are you allowing me to go through this immense pain? Why don’t you intervene right now? Why don’t you take this struggle away from me?” 
 
If you have ever wondered about these things, or if you are thinking about them right now, let me encourage you. The Lord does nothing without a purpose. God allows His children to go through tough times in order to bring glory and honor to Jesus. 
  
Think about Paul’s life. He spent a very long time in prison, instead of preaching and ministering to the lost. However, while he was in prison, Paul wrote a number of letters, many of which became part of the New Testament. Paul was able to do much more for the Kingdom from prison than He ever could have done from the pulpit. At the time, he probably didn’t understand why he was having to endure so much pain and discomfort in prison. 
 
Have you considered that God might be doing the same thing in your life? He might have you walking through a painful, tough situation because that is the way you will bring Him the most glory.  
 
Instead of asking, “God, why won’t you take this pain away from me?” what if you asked, “God, what do you want to do in my life through this particular situation?” Regardless of what you are experiencing right now, don’t forget that God cares about you and He is shaping your life to bring Him glory and praise. No matter what comes your way, He can use your life to be a blessing to Him and an encouragement to other people. He promises to work all things together for good, so choose to trust Him in that promise today.