Go Beyond

Laura Story is one of my new favorite Christian singers whose songs have found a place among my diverse iPod playlists. Blessings, one of her newest releases, is one of those insightful pieces that causes me to think deeply every time I listen to it. The lyrics challenge me to look at the difficulties and pains of this life in a new light. Laura sings:

What if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you’re near?
What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Like you, I do not particularly like difficulties, tears, sleepless nights, and pain. Yet, more than once God has used each of these to get my attention. In his book entitled The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” At times He has startled me with such a thunderous volume of pain that it caused me to drop everything and give Him my undivided attention. God has also gotten my attention when I have been close enough to hear him summon others through His megaphone of pain. Sometimes difficulties and pain are the best instruments for God to use to pry loose our grip on behaviors and attitudes that do not please Him and to get us to look in His direction.

Someone noted that painful circumstances will make you either bitter or better. I think it’s safe to say that most of us feel blessed by God when things are going well but have a tendency to complain when things go wrong or not according to our plan. Some fall into despair and turn away from God while others respond to painful times by turning to God. Others confess that their difficulties taught them spiritual lessons and brought them into closer fellowship with God and later testify about God’s help in their time of need.

Sooner or later each of us will be roused by the deafening decibels of difficulties and pain. When you hear God shouting to you through your pain, stop what you are doing and turn to Him. Determine that you will listen and learn from Him. Consider the possibility that God could be trying to discipline or teach you and determine to respond positively to such measures.

Difficulties and painful times will come. When they do, remember that some but not all suffering is sent as discipline from God. However, all experiences of suffering can help us to grow spiritually. Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you experience painful periods.

Listen | Listen to God. Be sensitive to how He may be speaking to you. Consider that He may be using pain or adversity to get your attention.

Look | Take a close look at your life. God may be using adversity to give you guidance about some area of your life or to turn you from destructive patterns of thought and behavior.

Learn | Ask God to help you learn the lessons that will help you to honor Him with your life. Take the time to reevaluate and, if necessary, to reorder your values and priorities.

Leave | Repent and leave destructive attitudes and behaviors behind.

Lean | Lean on the Lord. Determine to trust and obey Him. And remember that the trials of this life — the rain, the storms, the hardest nights — may very well be His mercies in disguise.