Everyone is going to experience pain at some point in their life. The kind of pain can run the gamut from emotional to physical, but no matter what, we each will experience pain. This is especially true for Christians as we know from the scripture that we will all suffer persecution at some point. But we mustn’t worry because God is always able to give our pain a purpose. Using what was intended for bad for the better of so many people.
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
That verse from Genesis is one of the greatest verses that can be used when we speak about God using our pain for a purpose. The one who spoke those words was Joseph while he was speaking to his brothers. You see Joseph had two dreams which when interpreted represented his family bowing down to him, the youngest, as a great ruler.
Genesis 37:5–10 (ESV)
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”
Which coupled with the love his father expressed to him caused his brothers to despise him and plot for a way to get rid of him. Their first plan was to kill him and claim he was attacked by an animal. But that changed when they had the opportunity to sell him into Egyptian bondage.
Genesis 37:19–20 (ESV)
19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
Genesis 37:26–28 (ESV)
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
It’s hard to imagine the pain that Joseph must have felt at that moment. Witnessing his own family wants to kill him and then offering him up as a slave. But more than likely he did not feel as though God had a purpose for his life.
Thankfully things quickly started to look up for Joseph after he made it to Egypt. As he was highly favored in His master’s house and given a high position. But it wasn’t long until his master’s wife started to get eyes for him. And eventually made a move on Joseph which he refused. But sadly he left his garment behind and she used it to have him cast into prison.
Genesis 39:2–4 (ESV)
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
Genesis 39:12–15 (ESV)
12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.”
Genesis 39:20 (ESV)
20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
As soon as Joseph began to find a purpose for his life again it was all painful ripped away. Now he finds himself again in a dark place and must be dealing with some strong emotional hurt. But it is because of him being thrown in jail that he was able to meet a butler. Who would later introduce him to Pharaoh.
Genesis 41:9–12 (ESV)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.
Genesis 41:14 (ESV)
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.
Joseph was able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. Which caused Pharaoh to place him over all that was his. Ultimately giving purpose to all the pain he had suffered up to that point. Because he was able to save the lives of many who would have died in the five-year famine. Including the brothers who sold him years before.
While Joseph did not find his suffering enjoyable, the purpose that came from it was worth it. He is not the only person named in the Bible who’s pain God gave a purpose. In fact, this is the case for many of the people we read about in the Bible.
One of these people was the Apostle Paul. Who often found himself thrown into prison and even beaten for preaching the Gospel. Yet God found a way for all his suffering to be used for a greater purpose. One that the Apostle was very proud of. The advancement of the Gospel and the salvation of many.
Philippians 1:12–14 (ESV)
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
The book of Acts records one of the many times that God gave purpose to Paul’s pain. Once again he found himself chained in a dark jail after being beaten. Even though he was going through all that, Paul and his companion began praising God loudly for all to hear. Causing a mighty move of God. The man keeping the jail came to faith in God that same night. In fact, the man’s whole family was baptized that very night.
Acts 16:30–33 (ESV)
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
Because of the pain, Paul had to endure a whole family and so many more received salvation. Making Heaven their eternal home.
Both of these men suffered greatly in their lifetimes. But God was able to use their pain to do great things. However, while God used their pain it was only possible because they each allowed it to be used to bless others.
Joseph had every right to turn his brothers who caused his suffering away. Choosing not to give them food and potentially altering the entire course of scripture. But instead, he allowed the Lord to use him. This ultimately led to the line of David and in turn our Saviour Jesus Christ.
It would be hard for us to blame Paul had he chose not to share the Gospel of Christ with those who persecuted him. Yet that is not the story scripture tells. It was only because of where Paul was and the pain he was enduring that he was able to lead the Jailer and his family to salvation. The fact that Paul was able to reach someone in this way actually fulfills a statement made by Jesus to the original twelve Apostles.
Luke 21:12–13 (ESV)
12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
Jesus told His disciples they would be persecuted. Adding to that through this persecution they would have an opportunity to witness to people that they may not have had otherwise. The same is true for Christians today.
Your pain could stem from persecution for serving Christ. Or It could even be pain from sickness, loss, divorce, or whatever your story may be. Just remember that God can use whatever pain you have suffered for a greater purpose.
Don’t allow the pain you have or still are suffering to stop you from doing great things. Instead, choose to let God use your hurt for greater things. Help those who are suffering in the same way you have. Use your story and the opportunity you have because of it to share the message of Jesus Christ with the lost. And see souls touched and saved.
We hope you will see what you have had to go through in your life in a new light. Knowing that God can and will use it for great things if you will just let Him. Suffering is never enjoyable but it will be nothing compared to the glory we will receive in Heaven.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
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