Precious Gift of Pain

We will all experience hardships; some may be momentary setbacks in our day to day lives, but others may feel so bleak it becomes seemingly impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel.   It is in those desperate times, we tend to beg and plead for God to take away our burdens and relieve us of the grief, pain, and shame that so deeply penetrates our soul.  Although there are times that God is merciful and delivers us from our pain rather quickly, there are other points when he allows us to trudge through some of the darkest times of our lives for what feels like eternity.  The heartaches of life may leave us feeling alone and hopeless; while these feelings are completely normal, God does not want us to be afraid or feel discouraged as he has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us.   God allows some of us to experience pain and hardships to not only deepen our relationship with Him, but to allow us to walk hand in hand with others that may need encouragement that the storm they are facing will indeed pass.  Although, when we are in the midst of navigating through the dark and unknowns of life it can be difficult to see, God never leaves our side; He allows us to feel and experience pain in ways that will bring him glory to his kingdom.  Because of the precious gift of pain, we can walk through the valleys with those we love and serve as an encourager that God will not only see us through our darkest days but hold our hand along the way.  Perhaps there is someone you know that needs that reminder today.