From Pain To Purpose

I once heard it said, either a storm has just passed you, you are in a storm, or you are walking into a storm. I think there is a lot of truth in that, and even in reading that, one can feel fairly disheartened, right? So what you’re saying Kristin, is that we will forever encounter storms in life. Well, to some extent, this is true! But in other ways, it’s all about how we view them.

I don’t know about you, but I know that I often need to be living on the other side of my storm or struggle to see the value in it. What I mean is that it’s hard to understand the purpose of a storm or struggle while walking through it, until you are on the other side of it.

And you know where Jesus’s actions in the Bible are often written about? In the middle of a storm. Whether it be a true thunder/lightning/wind storm or just the storm of life that someone is in. The Bible doesn’t describe His encounters with people AFTER the storm typically, but it is while they are in it. When Jesus asked Peter to walk on water, Peter started to sink into the stormy sea when He took His eyes off Jesus, but as soon as Jesus encouraged Him to keep his eyes on Him, Jesus reached out His hand to save him (Matthew 14).

After that incident, Peter and Jesus climbed into the boat and it says in the Bible, “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

Their pain and their storm became their purpose and their testimony.

Throughout each diagnosis I’ve experienced, trust me, in the moment, those words were met with immense grief and tears. I didn’t want “one more thing”. And yet, as I look back, I think about the people I’ve been able to meet and talk with BECAUSE of my journey. I look at those God has graciously allowed me to walk alongside to help them in their pain – whether heart and cancer-related or not.

Mazy has experienced some really difficult circumstances surrounding my diagnoses too, especially when it comes to attachment. This is something she still battles, which after she was diagnosed with an attachment disorder, we were told she would have a lot of up and downs. They weren’t wrong! But just last week, as Mazy’s tender, sweet, and gentle heart battled, God put it on my heart to tell her that honey, this too, will someday become part of your testimony. You could SEE her eyes light up! She has felt the overpowering presence of God in her life and is experiencing God meeting her in her storms, and what a joy it is to see her pain, Lord-willing, one day, becoming her testimony. Not that you EVER wish storms on anyone, but when you know for a fact, God in His mercy and grace will use it for good, there is power in this too. Pain is never without purpose.

So let me ask, what has God allowed in your life – what storm has he allowed – that you now can use for His glory and part of your testimony? How can your pain, what you’ve walked through, your experiences, your unique story, how can that become your purpose?

I 100% believe God lets NOTHING go to waste. I feel like that’s a cliche statement, but God doesn’t work in our lives without purpose.

Today, think about the events that have had the most impact on your life – whether positively or negatively. How can you use that pain to help drive you towards your purpose?

I’d love to hear yours…