See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. --Ephesians 5:15-16 (KJV)

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Muriel Woods
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1 InWord: Lossology 101 Session 5 ROUGH DRAFT: God Redeems the Pain. Really? Setting the Heart There is a phrase that s popularly used to comfort those who have experienced great pain from loss: God redeems the pain. He may not circumvent the loss, but He redeems the pain. But what does this mean, exactly? In fact, that is not a phrase you see in Scripture. So how can we know it to be true and how can it help us with our pain? Let s start with a simple phrase from Ephesians that might give us a little insight on the process of redeeming. In fact, we re going to read this phrase from two different versions of the Bible to provide a little word study insight. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. --Ephesians 5:15-16 (KJV) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. --Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) To redeem the pain is to make the most of the pain, to use it for good and to take advantage of the perspective it gives. But how does this work? And how do we even know it to be true? Those are two great questions that actually serve as the outline for this session. So, starting with the question about whether it s true, let s dig in. Digging In How do we know that God redeems the pain? The passages below show this truth in action. As you explore these verses, look for the following: 1. What kind of pain, harm or troubles do you see? 2. How does God use the pain, harm or troubles? Genesis 50:20 (Joseph speaking to his brothers) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Romans 8:22-23, 26, 28 (the apostle Paul writing to Christians in Rome) 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

2 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (the apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. Taking It Inward What do these passages tell you about pain and troubles? What do these passages tell you about God s involvement in our pain and troubles? What has been the most difficult emotional pain in your life? Look again at how God used the pain and troubles in these three passages. How has, or how could, God use your pain in a similar way? Digging Deeper Now to the question of how this works. The Digging In passages above give us a glimpse into what God does with our pain. The next set of passages give us a glimpse into how He does it. As you read these passages, look for the following information: 1. What are we asked to do in these verses? 2. What process or progression do you see in each passage (especially Romans 5 and James 1)? 3. What is the ultimate benefit for us in each verse? Romans 5:2-5 And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. James 1:2-4

3 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 1 Peter 1:6-9 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Hebrews 12: Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. After reading and marking the Scripture, respond to these prompts based on what you just explored in these passages. When I face hardship, God asks me to: As I experience the hardship, I can expect this progression or process: The ultimate benefits of experiencing this process through the hardship are these: Taking It Inward Take a few moments to reflect on what you ve just explored in Scripture. Respond to these questions in light of the truth that God will redeem, or make the most of, your pain.

4 Why are we to react with joy when we face hardship? Why is this important to the process of God redeeming the pain? How does the processes you see in these passages minister to you? How do the ultimate benefits noted in these passages motivate you to want to react with joy when facing hardship? Or, more candidly, do they motivate you to want to react with joy? Insight It seems counterintuitive to actually react to trouble and pain with joy. But as you can see from these passages, joy is simply the start point in a process of allowing God to use our pain for good. The opposite reaction of joy would be anger, bitterness, resentment. Those reactions act as a shut-off to the process of God redeeming the pain. Yes, there is room for sadness, anger, frustration. But if we let those reactions define us, we keep God from making the most of our pain. And the key word in the preceding paragraph? Process. The passages in Romans, James, 1 Peter and Hebrews all allude to a process in navigating through trials. We don t begin complete and peaceful. In fact, we begin feeling the opposite of those words: fractured, splintered, anxious, agitated. We would rather have not had the experience. But you can hear God saying, Now that we re here, let s make the best of this; let s use this; let s redeem this. And the process begins. Redemption can come in many forms: restoration, healing, doing good. But it s up to us to allow the healing to begin. Putting Into Practice How have you seen the principle that God redeems the pain work in your life? How have you seen it work in the lives of friends and family? Can you trust this principle to be true? What steps can you take today to let God work the process of redeeming any pain in your life? What might that redemption look like?

5 God redeems pain in various ways. In fact, every situation is different. In some situations, hurt is healed internally through grace, forgiveness, restored relationships, or salvation. In those and other situations, people who ve experienced hurt are motivated to launch efforts that will comfort others through similar pain, or help others avoid the pain they endured. Examples of efforts launched out of pain: Jason Foundation Citizens Against Domestic Violence MADD Susan G. Komen Foundation

THE SPIRIT CREATES RELATIONSHIPS

THE SPIRIT CREATES RELATIONSHIPS Speaker: Winston Smith Lord, where are you going? Jesus replied, Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later. Peter asked, Lord, why can t I follow