Caring for Yourself While Serving God and OthersExemplo

Yelling "Ouch!"

Most of us believe God has a good plan for our lives … but it can be difficult to reconcile our faith against a devastating medical diagnosis, broken relationship, financial hardship, or unexpected death.

And what makes matters worse? Well-intentioned friends who say, “Don’t worry. Everything happens for a reason.”

But that expression is very different from Romans 8:28 (ESV), which says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

We may never understand why we go through tough times, but everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus can be assured that the Lord will work everything for good.

But working through pain requires a partnership with God. Sometimes, He instructs us to simply wait and trust Him. Other times, He may prompt us to apologize to someone we’ve hurt, seek a counselor, start a Bible study, or walk away from a tough situation altogether.

Today, maybe you need to say something like, “Lord, it’s been a difficult season. I’m weary. I need your help.”

When life hurts, it’s okay to yell, “Ouch!” God desires our honest and authentic communication, and He can use our brokenness and pain for good.

Application

• Have any painful experiences resulted in discouragement or anxiety taking long-term residence in your spirit?
• If you identify any painful experiences that are still causing you to feel overwhelmed or paralyzed, consider seeking wise spiritual counsel from a faithful friend, counselor, mentor, ministry leader, or Christian therapist. But realize that you don’t have to be “on the other side” or completely healed from painful experiences for God to use you.
• Is there anyone in your life who went through or is going through a similar situation — someone who could help speak life and truth to you? Or someone you could invest in and help mentor? If so, reach out to them this week.