Romans 8:22 - "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

Life becomes harder when pain is involved. It is a raw emotion that can easily conflict with how we see God and how we see our situation, especially when the pain we feel involves someone closest to us. It stings in the worst way. Besides all the hurt and brokenness pain comes with, pain is something that also teaches. Pain teaches us strength, dependability, and growth in our lives with Christ.

Whenever we are dealing with pain from someone closest to us, we tend to forget that God placed them in our lives for a reason. It is often said that this reason is a lesson or a blessing. Even if it is from a family member, they hold some value in our life stories. To be honest, when it is from someone closest to us, that pain can turn into the blame game. But if we allow that pain to lead us to blame God, we are forgetting why this pain has occurred. Pain always has a purpose and in Christ, pain become your greatest strength. Pain teaches us not only to find strength in ourselves to overcome but also to find strength in Christ, who gives us what we need to overcome. Christ is our useful tool in dealing with pain, and when we use Him to pull us through, He carries us with grace and peace.

Second, pain teaches dependability. When we go through a season of pain, we either run to the things we relied on before our salvation, or we run to Christ who is our salvation. When we run to things that we relied on before our salvation, we allow a hole to develop in our walk with God. That hole can easily draw us away from Christ because we have chosen to use things as our lifeline instead of Him. Dependability on Christ is about going to Him first instead of others. It is about choosing to focus on the beauty and love of Christ. Dependability on Christ during painful seasons leads us to the cross that sees our pain as purpose.

Lastly, pain teaches growth. Growing during a painful season is a choice because we can either be consumed or be convicted. When we are consumed by the pain, we are focusing on the situation instead of Christ. The pain of that situation can easily become something we use to fill up on things that are not Christ-like. When we choose conviction, we are focusing on Christ. Conviction draws our hearts closer to the heart of Christ. Conviction reveals the beauty and peace of allowing pain to grow us.

God is our lifeline. So today, sons and daughters, learn to allow a painful situation to teach you strength, dependability, and growth in Christ. Choose to be convicted instead of consumed. Choose to find purpose in your pain.