Earlier this year I heard Craig Groechel, pastor of Life Church in Oklahoma, speak at the C3 conference in Dallas. It was a great talk about how Jesus didn’t go to the synagogues or places of higher learning to choose his team. He chose plain old, messed-up guys like us. One thing Craig shared I will never forget. This is the way I remember what he said… the difference between where you are, and where God wants you to be, is the pain that you are willing to endure. He went on to challenge by saying... what painful decision in your life are you avoiding? Pain, pain, and more pain. It is a factor of life. It is a factor of growth.
We get it all wrong sometimes. When we make the elimination of pain the goal of church, we are getting it wrong. If we are not careful we can make comfort, convenience, and safety, a false God. Am I saying that pain can be a good thing? What I am saying is that pain can be used for good in our lives. The times that I have been stretched and pulled the most are during times of extreme pain and even depression.
So I ask the question today…How much pain is in your life? What areas would you change if God would let you? What is it that God is whispering (or shouting) to you in the midst of your pain? Is He looking for you to change, to surrender, to step forward and take a risk, or is He just telling you to hold on for one more day while you do your best to trust Him.
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2 comments:
Wow John...in the midst of all my drama I have been going through..I am so glad you wrote this. I hope that he is telling me to hold on for one more day and that I can learn to trust him, to surrender, or to step forward and take a risk. Maybe one day I will find out what god is shouting to me(because I know hes not being quiet about it..lol)
I'm glad God used it to speak to you Chrissy. Unfortunately for us, there are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Trust and surrender are life-long pursuit...and you are correct in that God is telling you to keep holding on!
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