Pain isn't bad...it just hurts!

This blog is a re-post of something I wrote over 2 years ago, but it still applies, and when I came across it, it was a great reminder, and proof of how God is still using my pain and past to work in my heart and life, ultimately to bring glory to him. How awesome!

  Someone very wise once told me "Pain is not bad, it just hurts." My first thought was, yeah..no kidding it hurts! But I didn't listen to the first part..."Pain is not Bad." I have a past that I'm neither proud of, nor speak often of, and yet, its something that plays a major role in my life. The pain that has come from this, has left me feeling hurt, broken, fearful, confused, guilty, upset, and even at times angry. For the longest time, I have HATED the pain I held inside, that only a few close people knew about. Along with wishing the pain wasn't there, I also had recently, and by recently I mean the past few years, have been trying to weed it all out. To be released from its hold..Satan's hold, and move through it, coming out as purified gold.
  More Recently, I have finally started to understand the first part of that quote, that is so near to my heart..."Pain is not bad." To me, it means that all those feeling that come from the pain, the fear, the hurt, the confusion, the bitterness..that's all okay. My God has taken care of it. And not only has he taken care of it, but hes made a beautiful story from a broken life. A story that is meant to be told, a story of hope, and love. A story, that will hopefully help someone else.
  I am aware that I am not the only case of this. There are many of you who have a story. Or maybe God is in the process of writing your story. Maybe its a painful one, like mine. Or maybe its one of many blessings, whatever it is, its beautiful and perfect in Gods gracious eyes. He gave us our stories to help others, not to lock them away and never reveal them again.
 
  Maybe this is difficult for you. Maybe you feel like you aren't sure where to begin. Maybe whats holding you back, is you feel like your too weak. You know what..God works best in weakness! In the 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about how he had a "thorn in the flesh" and when he asked God to remove it, God said " My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." Paul got the message, and said " So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
You may feel like your story doesn't have much to give, but what you do have, may be exactly what someone else is desperately searching for. Be bold in Christ! That is my goal for this year. To be able to share my story, with those around me, who are going through what I did and needs an understanding friend. I encourage you to do the same!

"That's why I take pleasure in my weakness, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong"
-2 Corinthians 12: 10