https://odb.org/2025/06/06/no-wasted-pain
Exodus 3:7–10 (NIV): 7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
An important aspect that we would all know by now about our spiritual journey with the LORD is that as believers, we are not shielded from the rigours and challenges of life. Except that as believers, we are somewhat protected by the shadow of His wings and provided for by His grace and mercy. As the righteous, we are like the tree described in Psalm 1:
Like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.
Yet the tree is exposed to the elements of the earth. The storms that come and go. The thundering winds. The heat of mid-day sun. The creatures of the day and night seeking shelter in its branches, most of which co-exist and help in its pollination and growth. Its leaves that wither and rot on the ground fertilises the earth and coupled with the streams of water, ensures its survival and prosperity as an earthly species.
We go through pain and grief as we live out our lives. Bitter disappointments. Painful episodes. Crushing pain. Hurtful and sometimes humiliating situations. Most become stronger from the lessons of life with Jesus by our side. Some falter a little, but with a helping hand from the Holy Spirit, we pick ourselves up to fight another day.
The point this morning is that all our pain and grief are not in vain. They are not wasted. Whatever we have gone through, God can and will use it for His glory. If we come from a home devastated by drug addiction, we can minister to someone with a similar background. If we are a cancer survivor, God will use our life and testimony to reach out to those going through cancers. Or if we had lost a loved one that we had cared for due to cancer, the grief and pain we had experienced would be of help to others going through such grief. None of our grief and pain are ever wasted. God will turn our experience into beautiful blooming flowers to brighten up the day of a grieving daughter or son.
Let’s cheer up and look forward to Jesus using us in a mighty way to be a genuine blessing to those going through pain and grief! Have a good weekend, everyone! Become that tree that is planted by streams of water, who bears fruits in our season, and whose leaves do not wither, but all that we do prosper! May the LORD our God bless the work of our hands that we will always be a blessing to all those who are around us despite the pain and grief we go through in life!
Ronnie's Thoughts 