Inspite Of The Pain

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” James 1:2-3

Honestly, when I am facing challenges except I remember this Scripture I naturally do not count it as joy. I typically would pray, “Lord, what is going on here? Help me”. But Paul is challenging us to our core that you can be in pain and you can be on purpose. You can be waiting for a promise and you can still be fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. For a lot of us, when we are waiting for a promise or when we are in pain we want to put everything on hold. We want to literally push the pause button in every area of our lives but God is saying to you through Paul, consider my chains. So we ask someone, when are you going to begin to serve God? And the response is, when I get married, God needs to settle me first in my home then I will serve God. And to another we ask, when are you going to begin to worship like you used to worship? And the response is, when I have my children. All these people are able to worship God the way they do because they have their own children. I need my own children, so let God answer me then God will receive authentic worship. We ask yet another, why are you not consistent in church? And the response again is, let God give me a good job so that I can buy a good car so that come rain come sunshine I can still come to church. Is that not a good deal? And we hinge the fulfillment of our calling and purpose in God to the absence of pain. But Paul is saying remember my chains and the chains could not hold him down. So are you waiting on God for a promise? Maybe you are waiting for a job, or waiting for a spouse, or waiting for a child, or waiting for more children. Whatever you are waiting for, God is saying you can fulfill your purpose in spite of the pain.  Joseph waited fifteen years but he still became prime minister. Abraham waited twenty-five years but he still became father of many nations. Moses waited forty years but he still led the whole nation of Israel. Jesus waited thirty years but He still brought salvation to you and I. For some of us the waiting period is three years but we just don’t know. For some the waiting period is just six months but we just don’t know. For some others it is five years, we just don’t know. And you are on the forth year but you are about to give up, you just don’t know. God is saying to you and I, fulfill your purpose in spite of the pain.

Jesus Christ is all. Jesus Christ is Supreme. There is nothing that you can add to Him, there is nothing you can take away from Him. And you are complete in Him who is the Head of all principalities and powers.

Prayer: Lord, I am sorry for grumbling and complaining, help me focus on You and fulfill my destiny and purpose in spite of this pain, in Jesus Name.