Barriers to Callingনমুনা

Calling and Pain

No one looks for pain and suffering, but we all have to face it and deal with it. Often the very things that can be a huge barrier to our calling can also be a road to discovery that strengthens our calling. 

As we dare to journey down the road with God, we discover more about Him and about ourselves. On this difficult and narrow path, treasure can be found, revelation can be found, God can be found. The prophet Isaiah reveals that in the dark nights and hard places precious gems and treasures can be found, and the one who calls us, calls us by name.

Our pain and suffering serves to strip us back and to loosen our grip on things we weren’t even aware we were grasping on to. In that place we can choose to grab hold of other things to numb the pain and relieve our discomfort, or we can choose to surrender more to the love and grace of God. 

All suffering causes grief. It may be loss of a loved one; loss of a dream, a job, an identity, a friendship; even loss of control of some kind. The only way to move through pain and suffering is to grieve, and it is fair to say that most of us aren’t very good at grieving. We are good at feeling sorry for ourselves, but that isn’t grieving. 

Submission is part of grieving and letting go. Eventually, the wound becomes less tender and begins to heal. We bear a scar which, in time, becomes a story of God’s grace that can comfort and strengthen others. Our pain, when transformed, becomes a gift to give away.

Questions

Can you see a link between past pain and disappointments and parts of your calling? Is there any unprocessed pain you carry around? What treasure do you have to give away?

Prayer

Lord God, thank you that you are close to the brokenhearted. Come close to the broken parts of me and help me surrender them to you. Amen

This plan is adapted and taken from the book, A Call Less Ordinary  

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