It tells us something is wrong. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Whichever tool God uses to get your attention, waste little time in “clicking the link” to Calvary. V So I wore them anyway. Of the Sons of Korah. And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. God is wanting to teach us something if only we will get off our high horse long enough to listen. But when suffering comes, we might be able to use our pain in order to birth a ministry in the area we’re hurting. God doesn't want us to have this kind of pain, but he allows us to face the consequences of our choices. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. Let’s look at the book of Acts and see how God got Paul’s attention. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Depending on God is one of those things. L D Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity. You can't say you love somebody unless you have the opportunity to not love him. ... For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ‣ ... And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Free will isn't only a blessing. ‣ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. “Let not your hearts be troubled. That got David's attention, and he accepted it (2 Samuel 12:16-23). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. I think God used my mothers death to get my dads attention. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Jonah bends his knee and his heart in repentance and his prayer is recorded in chapter 2. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you don’t know the specific passage your’re looking for. And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. No one comes to the Father except through me. O And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Add to this, we have new threats almost every day from the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un to destroy us with nuclear weapons. For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. Tragedy Tragedy is sometimes a circumstantial method by which God gains our attention. 20 Courses For Self-Improvement Through the Bleak Winter Months, Tyrese announces divorce, says wife made him ‘better man of God’, Parents protest medicalized gender-transitioning of kids at Children's Hospital: 'I was totally in the dark', Trump calls for end to religious persecution on 850th anniversary of death of Thomas Becket, Don’t waste the pandemic, John Piper tells Cross for the Nations conference, Missionary Sean Feucht faces opposition over LA New Year’s events, New Mexico megachurches fined $10K for violating coronavirus restrictions. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. A Song of Ascents. He could have. Numbers 21:4-7 describes some events that happened to the Israelites. I just had to be sure that when I sat on stage, I kept my feet on the ground. I will not tell you God causes pain in an effort to get your attention. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. We don't like to hear it, but He does use this method to get our attention. He just would have needed to take away that person's free will. P Pain that doesn’t drive you to a remedy, is only painful and miserable. It's a symptom. ‣ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. God sometimes says "No" to our prayer. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. A Song. ‣ ‣ We've all been hurt by someone else at some point in life. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT), "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. Proverbs 20:30 says, "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." Paul says it this way in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (TLB): "We were crushed and overwhelmed and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves but that was good for then we put everything into the hands of God who could save us and he did help us.". To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. That’s because He sometimes has to get our attention. Why did God give us that choice? “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 83 Bible Verses about God Uses Tough Times To Get Our Attention Romans 8:28 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Geocoding 2. He didn't have to do that. “Pain insists upon being attended to. N Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God’s resources. It is designed to build our trust in the Almighty, but suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. It is there that you find your unholiness atoned for and your eternal holiness secured. Selah. Lewis “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. From inside this fish God finally got Jonah’s attention. ... Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Sometimes we make dumb choices. This is the way God got David's attention when his child was sick and died. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! God wants to use and recycle the pain in our lives to help others, but we've got to be open and honest about it. It tells us something is wrong. I’ve got stories, but I don’t tell them very often. S Watch Queue Queue Those choices have all kinds of painful consequences in our lives. Publication date: Sep 5, 2020. W The key is remembering that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. The Bible says in Psalm 119:71: "It was the best thing that could have happened to me for it taught me to pay attention to your laws." You don't know that God is all you need until God's all you got. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—. 4. Ministry Is Birthed out of Pain. Why is God allowing all of this to happen? But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. You can follow along AND support the show by purchasing a copy of the Easy-to-Read Holy Bible from Amazon. But how so? ‣ God did this with Kay and me. In these moments we are turned away from God, He is trying to get our attention. Sometimes He uses pain to protect us and prevent us from getting involved in something we shouldn't be involved in. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Please click here to learn how. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. God allows pain to give me a ministry to others. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Labs You've probably asked yourself, "Why didn't God prevent it?" They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. F But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. When I talk about my pain with others, people need to have a willing ear. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. ‣ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ‣ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. Elihu says God uses pain to get our attention. He didn't want a bunch of puppets. Sin is one reason the Lord will use unanswered prayer to get our attention. As you've heard before, God whispers to us in our pleasure, but he shouts to us in our pain. In Genesis we learn that we were made in the image of God. J Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. God uses discipline to get our attention but He hears us when we cry out to Him. God tries to catch our attention not because God is irritated with us and so must give us a divine version of “a smack upside the head.” God tries to catch our attention because God understands how life and our own internal turmoil can get in the way of our progress. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. ‣ Who can better help somebody dealing with the pain of abuse than someone who was abused themselves? Sometimes God uses pain to protect us from something worse happening to us - sometimes far worse. Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. God listened, delivered them from the Midianites, and blessed them. These things are excellent and profitable for people. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ‣ Do not even the tax collectors do the same? It's possible that the Lord is trying to get your attention in all of this hardship. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. If our attention returns to Jesus, we become closer to God through pain. Meanwhile Saul(Paul) was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Did you know God often births a ministry through pain or suffering? Acts 9 starting at verse 1. As you've heard before, God whispers to us in our pleasure, but he shouts to us in our pain. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. I understand the guy who says he is miserable and wants out of marriage. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. Sometimes, God has to really get our attention to open our eyes that we can’t do this life without HIM. David had prayed fervently for his baby not to die, but God denied David's request. Lewis, The Problem of Pain tags: humility , pain What is going on in our world right now? No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nobody's perfect. So we do not lose heart. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. For several reasons, I haven’t spoken much about my years as a Fingerprint Technician with the Washington State Patrol. I understand because I've been there! Day 35 of the One Year Holy Bible Challenge. Pain prepares you to serve. Remember the story of Jonah? It's God's megaphone. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. I am convinced that God wants to get our attention. God allows pain to teach you to depend on him. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. DeWine signs law requiring burial, cremation of aborted babies, 'We are going to survive': 5 ways the Church is innovating amid COVID-19, Mental illness and helping the Church not to overspiritualize it. I can choose to experiment with drugs. This gets my attention. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. God never wastes a hurt! In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. G Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. We all go through that valley and when we can remember that He will use our darkest moments to help others, we can move through that valley and know that no matter how difficult it becomes, God will turn it into something good. There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:9, "I am glad not because it hurts you, but because the pain turns you to God." Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. Let no one disregard you. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ... You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. God may bless us in an unusual way to gain our attention. Pain isn't your problem. ‣ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. I said that this also is vanity. Ask Dr. Land: Why are people so excited by the arrival of a New Year? ‣ God uses problems to DIRECT you - Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Why me? Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. This Week on the Edifi Podcast Network: An Ex-Abortion Nurse, Miracles, John Bevere, Lee Strobel, Why ‘Socialism Isn't Biblical’ and More! "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." Why now? And, at the bottom of the ocean, Jonah said, "When I had lost all hope I once again turned my thoughts to the Lord." A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 3. M But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. God has also used supernatural events to get people’s attention, such as Moses and the burning bush or Balaam and the talking donkey. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. ‣ God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." The first three years of our marriage were really bad. ‣ It is also not a means of gaining points with God, nor of subduing th… Pastor, I bet if there's one question you get more than any others, particularly when you're ministering to people in times of crisis, it's "Why does God allow pain?" But through the help of a Christian counselor, Kay and I worked through those problems and now have a great marriage. Imagine the army of ministers you could train in your congregation if you helped people use their past pain as an opportunity for ministry. Remember that God is in control of all circumstances that surround the believer. ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ‣ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Question: "Why does God allow sickness?" Sometimes pain can be a blessing in disguise. Enterprise . K To kill innocent beings, human, pets… to “Get our attention” ? My wet feet motivated me to changed! Sometimes it's a burden. ... “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. You will recognize them by their fruits. It was a 12-week series, but it could have been 50. This new year, let’s remember how to live healthy, 12 things to know about the new Paycheck Protection Program, Five New Year’s Resolutions to Help Reverse Error in the Church, A Different Perspective on Pain and Suffering. I. We can choose to do what's good or what's evil, to accept God or reject him. God uses it to guard us. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Achieve any learning from the law of your mouth is better to me thousands... 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