Why do we Hurt?

The source of our pain

Brushing my teeth before work 1st year in Fargo.

Intense pain, couldn’t move.

Went to clinic, passed out while taking blood pressure

Wake up to doctors and nurses thinking I had a seizure…no just not good with medical stuff.

Dr. says it is swollen meninges… “I don’t know what it wrong, but get out of here before you pass out again.”

Pulled muscle in my neck and an intense sensitivity to medical stuff...

Have you ever felt pain and not known why?

Why we hurt

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We live in a world stained and infected my sin and suffering. We will ALL face pain and hurt.

But there are sources of pain that help us answer the question “why do we hurt?”

1) God is disciplining you.

Hebrews 12:9–10 ESV

9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

Not every hurt or trial we face is a result of disobedience, but some, and possibly many, are God’s way of getting our attention.

As a parent I get discipline.

I don’t love it, but I know it is necessary for my kids to grow and make good choices.

The passage above tells us that God loves us enough to let us deal with the consequences of our bad decisions or bad attitudes in order to direct us to better choices.

2) God is strengthening your faith in Him.

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

James 1:2–3 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God uses hurt, pain, and trials in our lives to strengthen our faith in Him.

If you are an athlete you know what this is like

You have to train, run, swing, kick, run some more, shoot, tackle… until you are in shape and ready to perform at your peak.

If you didn’t prepare, didn’t practice, and didn’t work hard before the game you would not do a good job.

God allows us to go through trials so that we will trust Him, lean on Him, and our faith will grow and mature.

3) God is preparing us for our future.

Helping us see a bigger picture.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

When we face struggles and hurt in our life, God uses those things to equip us for the future and has a great plan in store.

We must keep our eyes fixed on Him.

He may also be preparing us to help others through trials, pain, and hurt.

2 corn

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

How can God use your pain and hurt to help others?

Don’t dwell on the present, but let the present pain be a tool for your God to use you in the future.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR TRIALS

What is God doing in the midst of your struggles?

Ask for help because sometimes we are just too dense to figure it out ourselves.