Don't Waste Your Pain

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV)

In my devotion this morning, a sentence jumped off the page - Don't waste your pain. The devotion chronicled a Princess Warrior who had suffered the loss of a child, but physically felt the overwhelming peace of God. She suffered the unthinkable, but turned her grief into serving others by earning a Masters degree in Family Counseling.

This Princess Warrior learned first hand that God did not promise that we won't face pain. In the scripture above, He acknowledges that we may grow tired and weary. What He does promise is He will renew our strength. He  will give us the peace that surpasses all understanding.

In the middle of pain, as we are being refined by the fire, we have a choice - look to God for strength, or be consumed by the fire. By putting hope in The Lord, we will be renewed.

While it may not seem possible, we will be delivered. And we will have a story. A tale of pain and deliverance; of heartbreak and mending; of war and victory. It is up to us to decide what to do with our story.

The God who sees us through wants also to turn our pain into service. Through deliverance, we learn much. Knowledge is meant to be shared. We never know who will cross our paths that need this knowledge. Seek God and He will use us for His Kingdom.

Don't waste your pain. It is part of our legacy.

Above All Else

Like most people, I need inspiration to get myself moving in the morning. My inspiration comes from a strong cup of black tea and a daily Bible reading. Some days the tea is more intense and, likewise so is the scripture. Today’s verse is:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NIV

Anyone who knows me recognizes that I believe wholeheartedly that God exists. He has proven it countless times throughout my life. But do I earnestly seek him?

Tumbling over in my mind this morning was the word “earnestly.” What a strange word? Pulling from the rock caverns of my cobweb filled brain, my thoughts turned to defining this word as honest; intense; to have an “above-all-else” mindset. 

Above all else, believe that He exists, and seek Him.

A little scriptural context. Hebrews 11 is a “who’s who” of Biblical characters with faith, put into action for God, achieving historical Significance. Each character is credited with earnestly, intensely, “above all else” seeking God and following His commands. Leaving family, waging battle, rebuilding cities, each warrior put their faith first.

Today I question, as a Believer, do I seek God earnestly? Is my faith “above all else?” Is it above the comfort of my home? Three square meals a day? Seeking status or authority in my business or family? Even above my delicious cup of perfectly brewed black tea?

I realize that to earnestly seek God, I must deeply, strongly, intensely serve Him. He must be placed above all else. Time in His Word is not meant to be a compliment to my morning tea, but rather the main focus.

Like me, do you reach for God as a compliment to your life, or do you earnestly seek Him above all else? Join me in placing Him as your main focus first thing every morning, and throughout every day. Together, let’s seek Him before our proverbial "tea" and see what Significance He has for us each day!