• Home
  • Shop
  • Cindi’s Speaking
    • Cindi’s Event Schedule
    • Book Cindi for Your Event
    • Cindi’s Speaking Topics
    • What Cindi Believes
    • Endorsements
  • Coaching Services
    • Coaching Credentials / Endorsements
    • Fees For Coaching/Consulting Service
    • Do We Fit?
    • Cindi’s Coaching/Consulting Options
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Encouragement
    • Articles of Encouragement
    • Encouragement for Couples
  • About Cindi
  • Contact
Type and hit ENTER
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Cindi’s Speaking
    • Cindi’s Event Schedule
    • Book Cindi for Your Event
    • Cindi’s Speaking Topics
    • What Cindi Believes
    • Endorsements
  • Coaching Services
    • Coaching Credentials / Endorsements
    • Fees For Coaching/Consulting Service
    • Do We Fit?
    • Cindi’s Coaching/Consulting Options
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Encouragement
    • Articles of Encouragement
    • Encouragement for Couples
  • About Cindi
  • Contact
GET CONNECTED
retina-image
cart
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Cindi’s Speaking
    • Cindi’s Event Schedule
    • Book Cindi for Your Event
    • Cindi’s Speaking Topics
    • What Cindi Believes
    • Endorsements
  • Coaching Services
    • Coaching Credentials / Endorsements
    • Fees For Coaching/Consulting Service
    • Do We Fit?
    • Cindi’s Coaching/Consulting Options
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Encouragement
    • Articles of Encouragement
    • Encouragement for Couples
  • About Cindi
  • Contact
  • 0 Items : $0.00cart
Realizing There’s a Reason for Your Pain
Share
Articles of Encouragement, Healing, Wholeness & Questioning God

Realizing There’s a Reason for Your Pain

October 30, 2014
-
Posted by Cindi

If you’ve ever found yourself saying “This wasn’t supposed to happen” I know how you feel.

I, too, found myself saying that at 19 years old when my father’s alcoholism was revealed and my parents divorced. I was raised in the church so that was the last thing I expected to happen in my family. Everything I found security in seemed to crumble beneath me. I found myself wondering why God didn’t hold my family together. Why didn’t He prevent the brokenness from happening? Why did He allow this hurt to happen?

My comfort came – and the questions were stilled – when I stumbled upon these verses in the Bible:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

It was as if God was saying “I know what is going on here, Cindi, and although you don’t understand it, you must trust Me through it.” I realized then that it wasn’t so important for me to understand why I was hurting, but it was essential that I trust the One who, in love, was allowing the hurt to happen.

I chose to trust God that day, rather than question Him. And I can honestly tell you that today, almost 30 years later, God has worked that entire situation for good in my life (by working a deeper trust in me and showing me how to be compassionate toward those who hurt), in the life of my father, who is now 30 years sober and ministering to countless other alcoholics, and in the lives of my other family members. Did God cause those hurtful situations in my family? No. But He was able to work through them to bring some purpose out of our pain.

Our lives often don’t go as planned, but don’t think for a minute that anything that has happened in your life took God by surprise.

After 30 years of ministering to women, as well as experiencing pain in my own life (a little of which I mentioned above), I can assure you that God has a reason and He knows what He’s doing in allowing whatever breaks your heart, slows you down, or produces pain.

In my book, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, I offer ten steps toward healing and wholeness. The first step is to realize there’s a reason and a purpose behind your pain. I know that’s easier said than done so let me give you three practical ways to start trusting this loving, all-knowing God on a daily basis – even when you’re hurting:

Thank God in the Midst of Your Pain

Scripture says “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (First Thessalonians 5:18, emphasis added). To be able to say “Thank you, God, even though I don’t understand this” is not only an act of obedience in which you live out God’s will for your life, but it is an act of faith. (And Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please Him….) Can you practice this crucial step of faith and obedience right now by thanking Him for each painful memory you have, not because you feel thankful, but because you’re commanded to be thankful…and because you desire to please His heart?

Tell God You’re Ready to Grow

Hurtful times are opportunities to grow closer to God. Tell Him you’re ready to see what He wants you to see and to know Him in the way that He desires. By doing this you are placing yourself in the position where He can teach you what He wants you to learn. Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” To say “God, I’m ready to grow” is another way of seeking Him and His refining work in your life.

Trust the Process

Even if you can’t see anything good coming out of your pain, trust the process God is allowing you to go through which will prepare you for something greater later. He really does, in all things, work “for the good of those who love him….” (Romans 8:28). And the very next verse tells us how God works all things together for our good: “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…” (verse 29, emphasis added). So if you’re going through heartache and you don’t understand why, trust that God is working on your character to make you more like Christ. And can’t we endure a little pain if it makes us more like Him, when we consider all that Christ endured for us so that we could someday be with Him?

So start trusting today that the One who loves you and won’t let anything touch your life that hasn’t first gone through His loving hands has a reason for what He’s allowing. He wants you to be more like Him.

Can you take that huge step of trusting He has a reason for the pain in your life?

(Read more about the Ten Steps to Healing and Wholeness in Cindi’s book, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts.)

October 30, 2014
Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning author and national speaker who helps women find strength for the soul. She has nearly 35 years experience ministering to women and inspiring them to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.
← PREVIOUS POST
Rejecting the Lie that He Didn't Care
NEXT POST →
Why Pray When You Feel Like God's Not There?
Categories
Also Find Cindi on:

Cindi’s Books Also Available On:
kindlenook
How to Know God is Right Next to You: If God seems How to Know God is Right Next to You: If God seems far from you, here are 4 ways to notice He's just a breath away.
https://strengthforthesoul.com/4-ways-to-notice-god-is-right-next-to-you/
Tired of the drama and circumstances that rob you Tired of the drama and circumstances that rob you of your peace? This podcast and these resources will help: iTunes: https://apple.co/3vyyBJI
3 Powerful Songs to Help You Get Through Life -- T 3 Powerful Songs to Help You Get Through Life -- The Bible's songbook has some gems that have helped me through challenging situations. See if they don't become your lifeline, too:  https://strengthforthesoul.com/3-powerful-songs-to-help-you-get-through-life/
5 More Ways to Let Jesus Shine Through -- From kee 5 More Ways to Let Jesus Shine Through -- From keeping your cool to watching your words, here are some simple ways to let others see Jesus in you... https://strengthforthesoul.com/5-more-ways-to-let-others-see-jesus-in-you/
5 Ways to Let Others See Jesus in You -- Now more 5 Ways to Let Others See Jesus in You -- Now more than ever the world needs to see who Jesus really is...and it can happen through you :) https://strengthforthesoul.com/5-ways-to-let-others-see-christ-in-your-life/
Trouble sleeping? These 3 prayers can help :) Scri Trouble sleeping? These 3 prayers can help :) Scripture says God grants sleep to those He loves. Say these prayers at night and sleep soundly in Jesus:  https://strengthforthesoul.com/3-prayers-to-help-you-sleep-better/
Fall in Love with God's Word in 2021 Fall in Love with God's Word in 2021
My Thanksgiving Gift to You - while it lasts -- Th My Thanksgiving Gift to You - while it lasts -- This weekend only, five of my popular titles are available for only $5 each, while supplies last. https://strengthforthesoul.com/shop/
7 Reasons to be Thankful -- Even in 2020 -- We've 7 Reasons to be Thankful -- Even in 2020 -- We've experienced loss this year, but here is what I believe God wants us to focus on so we can be people of gratitude: https://strengthforthesoul.com/7-things-to-be-thankful-for-even-in-2020/
Don't Worry - God's Got This -- Worried about your Don't Worry - God's Got This -- Worried about your finances, your future, the outcome of this election? Here is how God has it all covered...Read the post at: https://strengthforthesoul.com/dont-worry-gods-got-this/
4 Worries You Can Get Rid of Now - We should all b 4 Worries You Can Get Rid of Now - We should all be a wreck right now, but here's what God can do with what concerns you -- https://strengthforthesoul.com/4-worries-you-can-get-rid-of-now/
How to Be Pandemic Strong -- Here's how you and I How to Be Pandemic Strong -- Here's how you and I can offer hope to others during this volatile time in our communities and country... 
https://strengthforthesoul.com/how-to-be-pandemic-strong/
Follow me on Instagram

SIGN UP FOR CINDI'S BLOG

  • ABOUT ME
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright Strength for the Soul, 2018

Realizing There’s a Reason for Your Pain | Strength for the Soul