Peace in Times of Pain

Posted by Sarah on 6:10 PM in Faith, Footsteps, Time with God,

Many of us have experienced pain of some sort in our lifetime. Physical, emotional, spiritual, you name it. It's especially hard when pain comes at the least expected time.  It can break and shatter you, take you into deep despair, make you angry, bitter, feeling there is no hope or no reason to go on.

I have recently went through a deep valley myself. One that I never expected nor did I ever think I would would be able to bare. Truth is, in my flesh, there is no way I would be able to bare on my own. I would rather sit in my own self pity, hold on to the anger and bitterness this valley has caused me, remember and remind the hurt I am in. But why? What does that accomplish for my soul? Nothing!

Instead, despite this valley I have chosen to cling to Christ.  I have chosen to love and show Christ likeness no matter how much it hurts because Christ showed His love for us when He died on the cross.   I have chosen to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. I have chosen to find joy and peace in every moment and to have faith and hope to keep moving forward to a brighter and better tomorrow.

Reading God's word has been my hope and peace. God's word promises us that He will never forsake us, that He will comfort us, and if we surrender everything to Him, He will restore us.

Looking back over the past weeks, many verses actually were pressed upon my heart prior to entering this valley and I couldn't understand why? For weeks Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."  stuck out to me over and over again.  Others came to me after and have been nothing short than comfort to my heart.  Although there are many, here are some of my favorites.

 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9

"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise. Think on these things." Philippians 4:8

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. " Philippians 3:13-14

God has also used music as a comfort to my heart as well.  One song particularly brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it, yet it gives me hope and faith that Christ will give me peace to cover all my pain if I only lean on Him to carry me through.

My prayer is that God will use me in all of this to be a blessing to someone else who may be struggling with the same valley as I am going through. But more importantly I want to see Christ glorified through my life.

Blessings,

Sarah