Finding Purpose in the Pain: A community of hope and resilience
I got to thinking about our blog title here at Finding Purpose in the Pain.
I like to think that we are all a part of this community for a reason.
We are each in our own way seeking to find purpose in our pain.
Be it pain from grief, loss, broken relationships, illness, or life’s
disappointments.
Some of us are just beginning our journey toward hope. Others of
us have been along this path for a while seeking purpose when the waves of pain
fill us anew once again.
Some of us are ready to share our story in the hope of
encouraging others. Others of us are so fragile that we may run away if anyone
gets too close.
No matter where you are along the journey to find purpose in your
pain you are welcome here. To listen, to share, to glean hope from others, to
pass on your encouragement.
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There is one thing we all have in common.
This Choice to Find
Purpose in the Pain.
Why do we choose?
Because Christ first chose. And, by his example we must live.
And they went to a place called Gethsemane.
And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him
Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And
he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and
watch.” And going a little farther,
he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass
from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove
this cup from me. Yet not what I will,
but what you will.” (Mark 14:32-36)
What are we choosing?
Light over Darkness. Good over
Evil.
Look at what it says in Isaiah,
for Jesus had to make the same choice.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel. He shall eat curds and
honey when he knows how to refuse the
evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil
and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. (Isaiah
7:14-16)
Jesus had to learn too. In His
choosing, we have now been given hope through Jesus Christ.
How are we enabled to choose?
We may not be aware of it yet, but our Spirit is communing with
the Son of God asking, probing, seeking purpose in our desperate circumstances.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself
intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)
Change will come as a result of this intercession evidenced by
the softening of our hearts. The gradual changes in our perception of the world
around us - what was once hostile, becoming gentle and kind. New lenses will be
given to us to perceive life’s lessons. No longer will other’s words or actions
seem inflated with ulterior motives.
The Spirit works this way.
Jesus works this way.
For what end to we choose?
We must trust in Paul’s wisdom.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering
produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces
hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans
5:3-5)
We rejoice in our sufferings. Crazy, I know! How is that even
possible?
Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
We must renew our minds daily with the word of God.
Trust the Spirit’s intercession on our behalf.
Trust Christ’s redemptive power.
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This choice to find purpose in the pain is hard. Yet, I am
beginning to understand that this is Gospel Living - the road less traveled.
Not what the world does or what the world teaches.
How did we learn this? How
can we pass on our learning to others? How do we fight to do life this way when
everything in our society tells us to feel sorry for ourselves and to become a
victim of our circumstances?
We believe in the saving Power of Jesus Christ.
Since then we have a great high priest who
has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews
4:14-16)
Newly
purposed,
jana
About the Author: Jana Finch
Christ-follower.
Writer. Blogger. Mom of two boys. Air Force Wife. Rock Climber. Almost 40. I
found His still small voice in the simple and quiet farmland of Belgium. At jana’s three dresses I share my story in a raw and transparent way. My story is one of Life
after Death; of Redemption and Sanctification found on my journey through
Grief. (Psalm 30: 11,12)
