Isaiah 61:3 And Provide For Those Who Grieve In Zion-- To Bestow On Them A Crown Of Beauty Instead Of Ashes, The Oil Of Gladness Instead Of Mourning, And A Garment Of Praise Instead Of A Spirit Of Despair. They Will Be Called Oaks Of Righteousness, A Planting Of The Lord For The Display Of His Splendor.

Pain is like a storm rolling in from a distant place.

In the storm there is chaos and tumult then a time of comfort.

With the storm comes a natural pruning of trees and plants. With the storm comes a natural pruning of our heart, mind, and soul.

With the storm comes a time of darkness soon followed by light in our soul.

With the storm comes a display of God's power against the dark powers and dark forces trying to destroy us.

With the storm comes a voice, the voice of God, calling out to us to hold fast, for He is always with us.

With the storm comes the destruction of one mission and the beginning of a new one.

With the storm comes confusion then a time of clarity.

With the storm comes a time of imprisonment then comes freedom.

Isaiah 46:4 Even To Your Old Age And Gray Hairs I Am He, I Am He Who Will Sustain You. I Have Made You And I Will Carry You; I Will Sustain You And I Will Rescue You.

A Prayer For A Time When You Are In Pain

I love you, Lord Jesus.
I have fallen down and I am bruised.
I am in pain and I have lost my way.
I am in pain and I have made grievous mistakes.
I am in pain and I have committed sins and wrongs.
I am sorry.
I would undo my mistakes but I cannot.
I am sorry I went astray.
I am sorry for the difficulties my life may have caused others.
Instead of love in my heart, there is to often a feeling of bitterness.
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
So very often I do not know what I do.
Even when I do not deserve it, I know you come into my life and touch my heart and make me new, whole, and I am reborn.
I seek your mercy for my sins, my transgressions, and my waywardness.
Even when I get caught up in my pain and I turn my back on you, you never turn your back on me.
My pain is no excuse.
I am sorry, for I went my own way and I did not think about you.
I am sorry, for I too often think of my own wants and needs instead of what you want from me.
Please do not hold the repercussions of my sins against those who do not know.
Please protect those who are innocent and naïve…those who trust me to be a guide for them.
Thank you for your understanding and compassion even when I do not deserve your favor.
Thank you for carrying my very sins to the cross.
In your Holy and Righteous name,
The name of my blessed Lord Jesus,
Amen.

Psalms 42:5 Why Are You Downcast, O My Soul? Why So Disturbed Within Me? Put Your Hope In God, For I Will Yet Praise Him, My Savior And My God.

When the pain has put you in prison, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain has put terror in your heart, you have Jesus with you.
When you are confused and full of doubt, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain has caused you crushing depression, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain has taken away your life, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain has destroyed all your hope, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain has taken away all your joy, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain causes you to weep, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain makes you think are alone, you have Jesus with you.
When the pain makes you say, think, and feel Jesus is not enough, Jesus is with you…to give you comfort…directing His angels to wrap their wings around you.

Isaiah 43:2 When You Pass Through The Waters, I Will Be With You; And When You Pass Through The Rivers, They Will Not Sweep Over You. When You Walk Through The Fire, You Will Not Be Burned; The Flames Will Not Set You Ablaze.

When we physically hurt do we think about spiritual things or the physical pain? When people get hurt do they curse God or thank God? In suffering we are alone because we are locked into the physical.

There is a comfort in God's presence in suffering.

When you are suffering, who do you think about most, yourself or others? We tend to trust ourselves more than we trust God when we are suffering, but jesus said

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

We get lost in the suffering, we lose our vision of the future or for the future, but Jesus said.

John 14:2-3 (NIV) "In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

To make sense out of the insensible, to bring all the pieces together when we have gone to pieces, Paul said…Romans 8:28 "and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

All things work for the believer's good if: 1. You love the lord with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might 2. You do the will or purpose of God. So in your suffering, what will you do? Who will you become? In suffering we cannot see out of the darkness, but Paul said 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

Psalms 138:7 Though I Walk In The Midst Of Trouble, You Preserve My Life; You Stretch Out Your Hand Against The Anger Of My Foes, With Your Right Hand You Save Me.

When we face pain on a continual basis we can begin to think God no longer has any power. When we face pain we must continually, without ceasing, turn toward God. Even in those times when we think God no longer has any power, He no longer loves us, and He no longer hears our pleas for comfort, we must still kneel at the foot of His cross. When our faith erodes because of our pain, we can begin to want (even beg) God to work in our life to give us special favors. Pain does not give us some kind of special right or privilege before God. We must proclaim God's power and love over our life even when we may face pain on a daily basis. When we are in pain, we are at the center of the battle between God and Satan. The war being waged over us by God and Satan is for our soul. Our destiny in eternity is determined by how we stand up against Satan's attacks. Like the Psalmist noted above, God's right hand through Christ does indeed save us so we may live in heaven forever and never again have to face a painful life here on earth.

Psalms 103:13 As A Father Has Compassion On His Children, So The Lord Has Compassion On Those Who Fear Him;

Sin blinds us. The last thing many people want to hear when they hurt is someone pounding on them about sin. However, the realities of life are such that when we hurt we have difficulty experiencing God's compassion. Tragically, when sin blinds us we keep on going to the trough of sin, over and over again. Even when we hurt, we still must make every effort to live a righteous life. When we let our pain blind us we pile trouble on top of trouble. Even if we have to go to Christ every day by only going through the motions, going through the motions is better than letting sin rule over us, which is what Satan wants to do. There is no part of our life we must guard more diligently than the place in our heart where our faith resides. Even a weak faith is a mighty force for God. You must keep going when you think you cannot go on. You must keep on believing when you think you can no longer believe. You must keep on praying when you think you can pray no more. Even when all you can do is whisper a tiny thought in prayer, Jesus hears you and He will indeed be with you until the end of the age.

Romans 8:28 And We Know That In All Things God Works For The Good Of Those Who Love Him, Who Have Been Called According To His Purpose.

Pain cancels out love. Pain cancels out our sense of His purpose. Because of what pain does to our heart, life, and soul we must, we absolutely must maintain a will of steel for Christ. In pain, we must not be reduced down to whimpering babies. When we suffer, we must be adults even when we are not yet adults. By maintaining an iron will, by being unrelenting in holding on to Christ and His love no matter what happens to us, even in our pain we will know in the deepest part of our soul God really does work for our good. We will know our purpose in life, even if we cannot get to a place where we can do our purpose at the moment. When we win in our pain, when we maintain our iron will and keep His commands, we will likely not be met by a parade to celebrate our victory. When we win in our pain, our victory will likely be known only to us and to Christ. Our victory will affirm for us, even in tiny ways, God is working for us even if we cannot work for Him like we might want.