Act JustlySample

Using your experiences

Chelsea volunteers as a nurse onboard Mercy Ships hospital ship: the Africa Mercy. Chelsea shared a story about a small patient hiding under a hospital bed:

“I found her crying silently—no whimpers, no sobs, just silent tears. Without a common language, how could I comfort her?  I offered a bottle of pink nail polish, and she snatched it and began painting my nails. Then I got a bottle of purple polish. She immediately started painting my other hand with the purple. Then she wanted her nails to match mine. Finally, she ran off to play, having forgotten why she was under the bed. These are the moments I live for, as a paediatric nurse.” 

In today’s passage, Paul shares the trouble and suffering he has been through. These difficult experiences have prepared him for his ministry and work for God. He turns these painful experiences into a positive! As Don Stephens, Mercy Ships founder, often says, “Your pain can be your preparation!” 

Empathy is the “ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” The fact that Paul has been through difficult times allows him to empathise and to comfort and relate to others in a sincere way. 

The experiences we have in our lives, both positive and negative, can be used by God, as we comfort those around us. Often God can turn our time of adversity into an advantage in our ministry, as we seek to care for others! When we have experienced God’s comfort, even in the most difficult of circumstances, it gives us authority to speak with love and empathy into other people’s lives.

Looking back over your life. Can you see how God has shaped you through your experiences?

Call to action - Could a time of pain in your past be preparation for something God has for you? How could you use your own experiences to comfort and serve others?