How Pain Builds Bridges
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. - (2 Corinthians 1:4)
It has been said that success builds walls, but failure builds bridges. Sometimes when we tell someone how everything is going well, it doesn’t help them at all. We say, “Hey man, things are going great for me. I just got a promotion, we’re going to buy a bigger house, and the kids have both been accepted into the finest colleges.” Meanwhile, their house just burned down. And a wall just went up.
But when someone says, “Pray for me. I’m hurting right now. I have a problem. I just got bad news from the doctor,” your heart goes out to them. You care. You want to help them. And so you should. We live in a world of pain and hurt. Everyone has it. And we should reach out to others who are in pain.
When we go through adversity, we can help others who are going through it as well. The apostle Paul wrote, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4). God lets us go through adversity so we will have a new compassion for others who are in pain.
Since our son Christopher went to Heaven, God has given me a platform to bring comfort to others that He has brought to me. So many hurting people have written me and have talked with me. And there are some who will listen to me today who wouldn’t have listened to me before. I thank God for that. But am I glad all this has happened so I can have this new ministry? No. I am glad, however that God can bring some good and some comfort out of that pain.
Copyright © 2017 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Social media summary: The surprising result of personal pain.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
SPECIAL OFFER
Explore the truth of God’s Word
You can receive a copy of Truth, a new book by Randy Alcorn. Immerse yourself in the truth of the Bible each and every day in order to know your role in God’s plan and to guard your mind against the lies of this world. With profound insights in bite-size, understandable readings, you’re sure to enjoy Truth: A Bigger View of God’s Word.
You can receive a copy as a thank-you gift for donating to Harvest Ministries today.
