In June of 2011, I heard the words that no one wants to hear, words that changed my life forever. “You have breast cancer.”

No matter how prepared you think you are to handle anything, it is still scary when you hear the c word. I was afraid I would die. In fact, I was scared to death. The doctors do not start out with “You are going to be okay.” They can’t because they don’t know that. Only God does.

I came face to face with raw faith. When I did not have a choice but to trust God, it was surprisingly easy. When He was all I had, I found that He was all I need. He is the Rock that I stand on, the Hope that I cling to, an ever present help in my time of trouble. Not only did I survive cancer. He transformed me.

Our Pain…

God has brought me through more trials than I can count. With His strength, I was able to care for my parents for years through cancer and Parkinson’s disease until they both died. Then He continues to comfort my grieving heart. He held me close through the betrayal of a best friend who embezzled from my business, and gave me strength to forgive her.

He brought me out of an abusive relationship that would have destroyed me. With His help, I overcame an eating disorder years ago. He healed me from breast cancer and melanoma. He has gone with me into the depths of emotional despair and brought me back up out of it. Now he carries me through a nerve pain illness that affects me every day, and I am currently going through another trial that is larger than life. Time and again, He has been faithful. I know He will be again, and forevermore.

We can go into a trial kicking and screaming, or we can go into a trial surrendered and resting.  Either way, we are going into the trial. God never said we would be free from trouble. Jesus lived a troubled life too.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

With God’s help, we can do two things:

We can GO through it. Our Big, Big God carries us through one day at a time. We survive the pain.

We can GROW through it.  Our Big, Big God grows our faith while He equips us for the new work to come. If we are open to it, we will find the new purpose for our lives.

His Purpose…

God wants us to share our pain. He does not waste it. He uses it to make us more like Jesus. And He does not want us to waste it either. He uses it to bring a new purpose, a new gratitude, a new compassion to our lives, and to give us a way to reach the hurting, the lonely, and the lost for Him.

God uses rescued people to rescue people. —Christine Caine

No one comforts a mother who has lost a child like another mom who has lost her child. No one comforts a mother of a special needs child like a mom who has raised a special needs child. A cancer patient can gain new resolve and new strength from a cancer survivor who has been there. A widow can be encouraged and find support in a group of widows.  A recovered addict can be a teacher and an accountability partner to help someone beat alcohol or drug addiction. I have personally seen each of these situations, and I have watched God work in them to bring help and healing.

Don’t be surprised that the very thing in your life that causes you the most resentment or that you are most embarrassed about can become the greatest ministry in your life. God does not expect us to forget the hurt in our lives. He expects us to trust Him and see how He can bring good out of it. And He does, again and again.

Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts. —Rick Warren

I don’t know about you, but I want the pain in my life to be for something. And not just for something, but for Someone, my awesome Savior. The next opportunity I get, I will use my trials to help someone else. Will you?

Lord, You never waste a thing…

Dear Lord: Thank You that You work all things for the good of those that love You. We are so glad that we do not have to face our trials alone. Help us to follow the example of Jesus who suffered for the benefit of others. Please give us wisdom, courage, healing and strength to not only go through our trials, but to grow through them. Help us to fulfill the new purpose that You intend for us, to comfort others and to reveal Your glory through Your victories in our lives. Amen 

…For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.  Genesis 41:52

God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things. 2 Corinthians 1: 4, 6

How can you use the pain for your past to help other people? Has God brought you through trials, and then put people in your path that are experiencing that trial? Has He given you a new compassion for others through your trials? And given you opportunities to share that compassion? Please share your experiences, thoughts and comments.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. Please subscribe to receive it directly to your email, and please encourage others to subscribe. It helps our distribution to grow.

May the Lord heal you to help others, bless you to be a blessing, and save you to serve Him.