No pain No Gain
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In my own personal life over the last several weeks, I have been focusing on discernment. During this time along with spending time in prayer and reading scripture, I have spent time reading one of the better things I have ever read on this topic. One of New York Times’ best-selling authors, Mark Batterson, has written a book called: Whisper – How to Hear the Voice of God.
Within the pages of his book, Mark Batterson talks about 7 love languages of God that help us with our discernment of God’s whispering. He uses the word “whisper,” because in order to hear God when He whispers, it requires us to get close to Him. Recently, I have found Him drawing me closer to hear His whispers.
Over the last several months I feel as though many of the people I know have been faced with quite a bit of pain, grief, and suffering. Many have lost loved ones, been diagnosed with illness, or just struggling with everyday life. In the book Whisper, the last of the love languages Mark Batterson talks about is pain. Yes, he describes pain as one of God’s love languages. When it comes to the idea of pain, many of us would prefer the phrase: “no pain, no pain.” Batterson quickly describes the path of least resistance doesn’t get us where God wants us to go. He even goes on to contend that once we understand what God is saying thru the pain, grief, and suffering we are experiencing, that the pain can actually produce a measure of pleasure. Batterson uses the story of Job to describe this idea.
I am sure most of you are familiar with the struggles of Job, but if not I would strongly challenge you to dive into this amazing story of faith. Batterson explains it this way, “Faith isn’t flying above the storm; it’s weathering the storm. It’s trusting God’s heart even when we can’t see His hand. It’s understanding that sometimes the obstacle is the way! If you want to know where God will use you, you need look no further than your pain. We help others in the places where we’ve been hurt. Our trials become our platforms, and our weakness is actually our strength, because that’s where God’s power is made perfect. If Job endured long and weary nights and months of frustration, there is a good chance we will too. But like him, we can come out on the other side more blessed than ever before.” We are able to do this by what Batterson calls, “contending season.”
When we experience pain thru the loss of those close to us, or receive a life threatening diagnosis we have choices to make. We can stand down, or we can stand on the promises of God. Contending for what we believe in is harder than conceding to what we’re afraid of, but it’s the only option if we want to live a life of faith. Batterson describes it this way, “Contending isn’t easy, but here is some good news: God is contending for you! Long before you woke up this morning, the Holy Spirit was interceding for you, and long after you go to sleep tonight, He will still be interceding for you. He contends with those who contend against us, and if you are contending for a righteous cause, God is contending for you. By faith, He fights our battles for us.” He also desires for us to praise Him thru our struggles and “pain.” So how do we validate the phrase, “No pain, no gain?”
How did Job survive hell on earth? “He fell to the ground in worship.” In order for us to make it thru the most difficult of times, we have to give God the sacrifice of praise. Batterson says it this way, “Don’t let what is wrong with you keep you from worshipping what is right with God. Don’t let the voice of condemnation keep you from worshipping God, sing over it. The hardest praise is the highest praise. God loves us when we least expect it and least deserve it, but we have a hard time returning the favor. If you only worship Him when you “feel” like worshipping, you’ll worship less and less. If you learn to praise Him in the toughest of times, the best is yet to come. Don’t forget, you are His joy. Is He yours?”
In closing, as we all continue to sort thru the pain in our lives, my prayer for all of you is that you will consider giving Him the opportunity to help you thru this time, and I think you will find yourself in a place where He will show up, and show off.
Over the last several months I feel as though many of the people I know have been faced with quite a bit of pain, grief, and suffering. Many have lost loved ones, been diagnosed with illness, or just struggling with everyday life. In the book Whisper, the last of the love languages Mark Batterson talks about is pain. Yes, he describes pain as one of God’s love languages. When it comes to the idea of pain, many of us would prefer the phrase: “no pain, no pain.” Batterson quickly describes the path of least resistance doesn’t get us where God wants us to go. He even goes on to contend that once we understand what God is saying thru the pain, grief, and suffering we are experiencing, that the pain can actually produce a measure of pleasure. Batterson uses the story of Job to describe this idea.
I am sure most of you are familiar with the struggles of Job, but if not I would strongly challenge you to dive into this amazing story of faith. Batterson explains it this way, “Faith isn’t flying above the storm; it’s weathering the storm. It’s trusting God’s heart even when we can’t see His hand. It’s understanding that sometimes the obstacle is the way! If you want to know where God will use you, you need look no further than your pain. We help others in the places where we’ve been hurt. Our trials become our platforms, and our weakness is actually our strength, because that’s where God’s power is made perfect. If Job endured long and weary nights and months of frustration, there is a good chance we will too. But like him, we can come out on the other side more blessed than ever before.” We are able to do this by what Batterson calls, “contending season.”
When we experience pain thru the loss of those close to us, or receive a life threatening diagnosis we have choices to make. We can stand down, or we can stand on the promises of God. Contending for what we believe in is harder than conceding to what we’re afraid of, but it’s the only option if we want to live a life of faith. Batterson describes it this way, “Contending isn’t easy, but here is some good news: God is contending for you! Long before you woke up this morning, the Holy Spirit was interceding for you, and long after you go to sleep tonight, He will still be interceding for you. He contends with those who contend against us, and if you are contending for a righteous cause, God is contending for you. By faith, He fights our battles for us.” He also desires for us to praise Him thru our struggles and “pain.” So how do we validate the phrase, “No pain, no gain?”
How did Job survive hell on earth? “He fell to the ground in worship.” In order for us to make it thru the most difficult of times, we have to give God the sacrifice of praise. Batterson says it this way, “Don’t let what is wrong with you keep you from worshipping what is right with God. Don’t let the voice of condemnation keep you from worshipping God, sing over it. The hardest praise is the highest praise. God loves us when we least expect it and least deserve it, but we have a hard time returning the favor. If you only worship Him when you “feel” like worshipping, you’ll worship less and less. If you learn to praise Him in the toughest of times, the best is yet to come. Don’t forget, you are His joy. Is He yours?”
In closing, as we all continue to sort thru the pain in our lives, my prayer for all of you is that you will consider giving Him the opportunity to help you thru this time, and I think you will find yourself in a place where He will show up, and show off.
Author: Royce Slechta, Athletics
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