Believe Again - Part Two - Finding Hope in the Pain

NOTES:

1. Pain Prepares Us for PURPOSE.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1 Peter 1:6–7 (NLT)

2. God Is PRESENT In Our Pain.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 (NLT)

3. God Can Be TRUSTED In Your Pain.

What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:9 (NLT)

Shift from “Why?” to “WHAT?”

Identify God’s PRESENCE.

Turn Your FOCUS Outward.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)

BOTTOM LINE:

God’s love transforms HURT into HOPE and PAIN into PURPOSE.

 

THE CHALLENGE: 
REFRAME your pain.

 

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)