Don't Waste Your Pain
Praise be to 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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. -- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Have you ever felt like your past disqualifies you from being used by God? Maybe it's a broken marriage, an addiction you fought, or a failure that still haunts you. Here's what I want you to hear today: the very thing you think disqualifies you is exactly what God wants to use for His kingdom.
The Apostle Paul understood this. Listen to what he wrote to the Corinthian church: "Praise be to 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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Did you catch that? God doesn't waste anything in your life. He comforts you in your pain so that you can turn around and comfort others with that same comfort. The greatest encouragers I've known in ministry aren't those who've had perfect lives. They're the ones who've walked through the fire—broken relationships, addiction, physical suffering—and came out the other side clinging to Jesus.
I remember when I broke my leg skiing. I was in a full leg cast for nine months, went through multiple surgeries, and spent two years recuperating. Before that injury, I wasn't very merciful toward people in pain. But after living with constant pain myself, everything changed. I could finally understand what others were going through.
Our God is the God of second chances. And third chances. And fourth chances. He doesn't call the qualified—He qualifies the called. Where is your pain? What have you wrestled with the most? That might be exactly where God wants to use you.
Don't hide your scars. Don't apologize for your story. Let God redeem every bit of it for His glory. Nothing is wasted in the Kingdom of God.
Have you ever felt like your past disqualifies you from being used by God? Maybe it's a broken marriage, an addiction you fought, or a failure that still haunts you. Here's what I want you to hear today: the very thing you think disqualifies you is exactly what God wants to use for His kingdom.
The Apostle Paul understood this. Listen to what he wrote to the Corinthian church: "Praise be to 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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Did you catch that? God doesn't waste anything in your life. He comforts you in your pain so that you can turn around and comfort others with that same comfort. The greatest encouragers I've known in ministry aren't those who've had perfect lives. They're the ones who've walked through the fire—broken relationships, addiction, physical suffering—and came out the other side clinging to Jesus.
I remember when I broke my leg skiing. I was in a full leg cast for nine months, went through multiple surgeries, and spent two years recuperating. Before that injury, I wasn't very merciful toward people in pain. But after living with constant pain myself, everything changed. I could finally understand what others were going through.
Our God is the God of second chances. And third chances. And fourth chances. He doesn't call the qualified—He qualifies the called. Where is your pain? What have you wrestled with the most? That might be exactly where God wants to use you.
Don't hide your scars. Don't apologize for your story. Let God redeem every bit of it for His glory. Nothing is wasted in the Kingdom of God.
Subscribe Now
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
January
Building Men Over MembershipsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryFaith Beyond Your FamilyGod’s Purpose In Your PainAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining EncounterA Desire To ServeA Faithful and Helpful FriendRestoring Broken RelationshipsThe Power To RestoreA Guilt-Free LifeA Hand Of BlessingA Heart Of RepentanceAllowing God To Do The ChangingAre You Feeling Stuck?Trust His HeartBe Ready For InterruptionsFull of the Holy SpiritDefeating DepressionPowerful Prayers and a BurdenThe Triumphal EntrySurrender Your Life to ChristGratitude Is The Gateway To ContentmentGratitude Is A Defense Against AnxietyDealing With DoubtFocus On The WordGiving and ServingListening Instead Of Talking
February
3 Keys To A Heavenly PerspectiveA Faith Rooted in FactA Faith That Draws or DrivesWhy Support Israel?The Danger Of Being Full Of YourselfLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureGod Is All-SufficientGuided By ProblemsJoy In The Midst Of ProblemsRemember Who God IsA Brand New Glimpse Of JesusA Call To God’s ChurchA Childlike FaithA Christ-Honoring EpitaphA Church On FireA Faithful and Helpful FriendA Personal AnswerA Public AnswerBe Sensitive To Your WitnessAwakenings and Quiet TimesCraving Spiritual MilkEmbracing Your Second ChanceSigns Of True RevivalResisting EvilBe DifferentBe AstuteBe Loving
March
Witness with Your WordsGod’s Word Is EnoughStay Rooted In The TruthA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouHave You Met Christ?Focus on the GiverEncountering God’s GraceStanding Accountable Before GodBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardImmeasurably MoreLiving in DenialYour Salvation MomentWhat Does It Look Like To Be The Church?A Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementWhen You Need Hope The End Is Near Stand on the Word of GodA Gracious GiftCelebrating Through BaptismThe Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentGod Draws Us to HimselfFind Rest in the Lord
2 Comments
I've had times where God used the pain that I had gone through to help others around me.
YES.INDEED. PEOPLE TELL ME, I HAVE A REAL TESTIMONY WHEN I TELL THEM WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH AND I KNOW THAT THE LORD IS USING ME THROUGH THIS AND I'M SO THANKFUL HE IS GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE, AND USING ME FOR HIS GLORY!!!