When Handel wrote the “Hallelujah Chorus,” his health and his fortunes had reached the lowest possible ebb. The right side had become paralyzed, and all his money was gone. He was heavily in debt and threatened with imprisonment. He was tempted to give up the fight. The odds seemed entirely too great. And it was then that he composed his greatest work – Messiah. We can say that Handel’s pain became his platform for ministry. Are you at your lowest moment? Do the odds seem entirely too great for you?
money gone?
ridiculed and criticized?
laid-off?
mounting debt?
failed relationships?
illness?
addiction?
uncertain future?
divorced?
dead-end job?
lonely?
overwhelming pressure on your job?
Are you tempted to give up the fight? Don’t quit! Don’t sulk! Because God is always doing something, cooperate with Him, even in pain. C. S. Lewis said that pain is God’s megaphone; he uses it to get our attention. This could be your moment – the moment where God uses pain to help you compose your greatest work – a symphony of your greatest music for others. Could it be that God is ready to compose Messiah in you so that others might be blessed through you! It is only when we:
Respond to our pain appropriately (James 1:2 – count it all joy),
Understand the reasons for our pain clearly (James 1:3 – the testing of your faith will develop patience and patience will lead to maturity and maturity will make us ready for anything that comes our way)
Rely on our Source, in the midst of our pain, absolutely (James 1:5 – Ask God and He will give you wisdom to understand the reasons “why” or give you the strength when “whys” are not discernible).
Pain can truly become our platform for God’s greater purpose. Let your pain become your platform to listen to God, draw closer to God and to tell others about God.
bmi1965 on March 26, 2009 at 12:53 am
New to the site today. I am looking forward to frequenting here to get encouraged and to encourage others. We have been in the thick of a lot of what you described above since August 2007 (losing job, house destroyed in Calif fires). God is taking us down to our bare bones of basic faith for everyday sustenance, and He has been showing himself faithful right when we need it. Challenging us at every turn to trust him. I find myself crawling off the alter of sacrifice pretty regularly. Thank God for faithful ministers and other believers who are not afraid to speak the truth into our lives, like James MacDonald & Greg Laurie, and our Pastor Doug Andersen and the staff at The Church On The Way in Santa Clarita. God loves us in the midst of our pain and weeps with us as we go through it.
Blessings
Bill
tom felten on March 26, 2009 at 7:25 am
Marvin, isn’t it interesting that the inspired beauty we can hear in Handel’s “Messiah” was created as he was going hard and ugly stuff? This reminds of the words Paul heard from the Lord as he suffered: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” This has proven over and over in my life. I’m so grateful that, as you stated in your post, we can rely on Him!
psalm100 on March 26, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I am going through a desert experience right now. It’s very encouraging to know that God is with us in the midst of our pain and affliction. It’s good to know that we can pray and encourage one another. I heard one preacher state”don’t waste your pain”.
marvin williams on March 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm
You are absolutely right – God doesn’t waste pain. He will use all we go through, good as well as bad, to conform us to the image of his Son. He takes our mess and gives us a message for and a ministry to other hurting people. He comforts us in our pain and affliction so that we can comfort others. Grace and peace to you!
Grace on March 27, 2009 at 6:01 am
Hi, It happens to be my Birthday today. Was feeling like I didn’t have anything good to look forward to for the new year. I stumbled upon this page while going to read the ODB devotional which I read everyday. This is encouraging! Handel composed that great chorus when he was at the lowest point in life? Perhaps I should spend my efforts in cooperating with God to make the circumstances I’m in a platform for Him to use.
marvin williams on March 28, 2009 at 12:05 am
Happy Birthday, Grace! I love your last line – “spend my efforts cooperating with God to make the circumstances I’m in as a platform for his use.” I think this is a great perspective. Cooperating with God is difficult at times in the midst of our pain. But if we let the life of Jesus flow through us (John 15), we will be able to stay under the pain until God delivers us or give us the strength we need to handle it. His strength is perfected in our weakness. Blessings on you.
chewyjean on March 29, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Desert experiences! I have those yet my pain comes from seemingly stuck in limbo not knowing or understanding my purpose. That is what bothers me the most; I do not understand my purpose and everything in front of me seems blurry. Yet I keep pressing on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. That I do and hope that one day my purpose will be revealed.