I have learnt by experience that the most important season to pour yourself into others, intercede for others, serve others, give and encourage others is during your own season of uncertainties, challenges and scarcity.
Make no mistake; the call to selflessness is for EVERY season. However, in no other time is it more imperative than when we are trusting God for our own needs.
I remember many years ago committing myself to interceding for friends seeking study visa to the US and UK, with many positive testimonies, while I continued to experience rejections with my applications. But that didn’t deter my intercessions.
There is purpose in your pain
Life is not always fair. But God never promised it would.
Sometimes, your plans don’t work out as you anticipate. No doubt you have big dreams, yet you find yourself sometimes barely figuring out whether you’re ‘coming or going’.
The label of ‘sorrow’ on Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) haunted him for many years until he recognised it was time to break off the yoke. But don’t miss the reality that for Jabez, there would have been no prayer, victory or breakthrough without the sorrow.
There is purpose in your pain. Never doubt God’s faithfulness. Out of your brokenness, God will heal. And even if He doesn’t, trust His sovereign wisdom, that all things are working for your good — Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28.
I pray you experience immense grace in troubling times and divine lifting out of the dungeon of life. Never forget, there is purpose in your pain.
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Encourage others with your comfort
I find 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 positively challenging. The end (purpose) of the encouragement God gives us during our season of pain is to empower us become an encourager to others.
3Blessed 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. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Notice how scripture assures us of the certainty of God’s comfort in our afflictions. Yes, God will certainly strengthen and comfort you.
However, the purpose of that encouragement isn’t just for you. The following “so that” statement is one of purpose; “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“
Look around you today and find someone to encourage, comfort and strengthen — by your prayers, giving, service or simply having a conversation.
You’d be surprised how much the latter (conversation) could make a huge difference to a lonely, discouraged and confused mind and heart.
Look away from yourself; encourage others.
Photo by Vasily Koloda on Unsplash.
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