Purpose in our pain…

Can it really be true? Can there be purpose in my pain? The answer I believe is yes.
There can be purpose to our pain when we let it inspire the path that lies ahead. Thinking back on times in our life and we have experienced pain, we can let our pain move us to isolation or depression- causing us to withdraw from feeling and getting stuck.
Or we can choose to be people who let our pain move us forward. Our pain can teach us lessons about ourselves and the world around us. Our pain can bring greater sympathy and understanding to the pain of others. Our pain can allow us to help others, come alongside of them, and in this, our pain is never in vain, but God can use it to reach and impact others.
This is the example that we see in Christ. The pain he endured on the cross created an opportunity for love to be shown and healing to begin.
So next time you find yourself in a season of pain, rather than asking “why me?” Flip that question to “how will God use this?” Let him use your pain to fuel your purpose and cause you to look up and out to those who might need your story.