PAIN AND GAIN

WITNESS

8-7-13

PAIN AND GAIN

How many of you

Are currently experiencing pain

How many of you

Have ever been in pain

I would say virtually

Everyone would answer yes

At least to the second question

There are three types of pain

Physical pain

Spiritual pain

And emotional pain

Pain is defined as a state of or lack

Of physical-emotional or mental well-being

It can be mild-severe-or any stage in between

I have to tell you

I am in physical pain

Almost every minute of my life

(as I am sure others of you are)

I have been in emotional pain

When relationships didn’t work out

And in spiritual pain

When I could not see

Where my life was going

Or why

God wouldn’t let my plans

For my life

Work out the way

That I wanted them too

And I have questioned God

As I am sure

Many of you have

AS JOB DID

“His wife said to him,

‘Are you sill holding on to your integrity

Curse God and die’

Job replied,

‘You are talking like a foolish woman

Shall we accept good from God

And not trouble’                                                                       

In all this

Job did not sin in what he said”                                                             Job 2:9-10

Job held on

He was VINDICATED

PAIN AND GAIN

I held on

By holding on

I found God

I found you

“When your words came-I ate them

They were joy and my heart’s delight

For I held your name

O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY”                                                                  Jeremiah 15:16

Though the world

May turn its back on us

GOD NEVER WILL

God is patient and loving

We may feel pain

But gain towards GOD

And towards others

Is our FINAL DESTINATION

GAIN

God works for our good

“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

THE POWER OF GOD’S LOVE

I cannot change my own life

                 PAIN

But hopefully something I say or do

Can be a SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

To someone else

                 GAIN

“WE rejoice in our suffering

Because we know that suffering

Produces perseverance

Perseverance-character

And character-HOPE

And HOPE doe not disappoint us

Because God has poured his love

Into our hearts

By the Holy Spirit

Whom he has given us”                                                                 Romans 5:3-5

Therefore-pain + gain=HOPE

HOPE FOR ALL OF US

Robert P. Wallman

5-4-13

Ps        WITNESS        8-7-13