BENEFITS OF PAIN & SUFFERING?

Yes, Believe It Or Not, There Really are Benefits

Pain & Suffering can help us

To learn important lessons in life

Mother eagle forcing her baby out of the nest to teach it to fly (Deuteronomy 32:10-11)

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

ARTISTS & COMPOSERS SOMETIMES DO THEIRGREATEST WORK DURING TIMES OF PAIN OR LOSS

To bring creativity, Resourcefulness & courage

To comfort others who are Going through similar pain

People who have faced the same problems are able to help & encourage others

To shape our character

Gold is refined by the fire which heats it until the impurities come out

Isaiah 48:10, James 1:2-4, Zechariah 13:8-9

TO TEST US TO SHOW WHAT WE ARE MADE OF

The early Christians were tested(Acts 4:1-21)

The apostle Peter was tested (Mt26:69-75)

The patriarch Abraham was tested (Gen22:1-14)

To repent & for salvation

Acts 9:1-16 tells the suffering which leadSaul the persecutor to become

Paul the apostle

To trust God

Perhaps we are forced to turn to God because we have no other place to turn

Job 40:3-5, Daniel 3:16-18

Can be an inspiration to othersChet McDoniel was born with no hands,only one stub of an arm & no thighs, out he has been an inspiration to many as described in the book

”All He Needs for Heaven”

Can have a Divine purposeIn preparing us for glory

The apostle Paul wrote that our suffering is ”slight”

“Momentary” compared with “eternal glory”

To prevent ourselves from Becoming dangerously proud

Paul said that his ”thorn in the flesh” was tokeep him from becoming proud & arrogant

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Can allow us to be like Jesus

We are allowed to share in Christ’ssuff ering as we serve the one whosuff ered on our behalf

Philippians 3:8-11, Hebrews 2:9-11, I Peter 4:12