PLOTTING THE PAIN

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. - John Piper

 

Many of us KNOW this right?

Many of the folks I get the marvelous opportunity to serve with, folks whose switchbacks have cut like switchblades, often say they wouldn’t “trade” the challenges in their journey. 

 

No, they wouldn’t want to repeat them, but now that they are on the other side of them and being given opportunity to use them to help others, they APPRECIATE them, they see the purpose in them.

 

Case in point, I have a good friend Dr. Monty Burks.  He and I are part of a national effort to engage FAITH-BASED leaders and ministries as well as churches in the fights against addiction and trafficking.  Recently Monty and I were presenting in Atlanta and while we were there it was announced that President Trump would be joining us at the event.  It was then announced that we were going to be given VIP access to the speech and that Monty was going to get a chance to say a few words about our FAITH work. 

 

Because I love my friend so so much, I couldn’t have been happier for him and he ROCKED his 2 minutes.  But there was something he said in his remarks that applies to today’s thought from Piper and the Word. He said, “I’m able to use the pain that I went through to help other people to not have to go through what I did.” -Dr. Monty Burks – RX Summit March 2019

 

Monty’s journey, Monty’s pain was significant.  He was a cast out, addicted, and for a time incarcerated.  And yet, his winding road has led him to now being the country’s most prominent voice inspiring FAITH to the table to help others LIKE HIM.  He uses the label “voices crying in the wilderness” to describe what he was and now who is called to help rescue and heal.  He is a true ambassador for the LORD!

 

And while Monty has been blessed to experience the other side of his pain and find his purpose, perhaps you haven’t emerged from the hurt just yet. 

 

Maybe the pain is still presiding.

 

If so, don’t lose heart! GOD IS

plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

WE NEED TO

…see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison…2 Corinthians 4:17 (TPT)

Friends,

“The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary, but your reward will be eternal.” - Rick Warren

 

 

 

I love you all!

Opportunities for Hope