March 1, 2025 Purpose in Pain

Anneli Campbell
West Bay SDA

Theme: Finding meaning in trials

Scripture: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as

though some strange thing happened to you: but rejoice to the extent that you partake of

Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding

joy.” 1. Peter 4:12-13

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who

are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Life is a gift for which we should praise and thank God with every breath! But sometimes, life

knocks the air out of us, and we feel suffocating. Once, as a little girl, I fell

off a swing and landed hard on my back. I had never experienced that feeling of not being

able to breathe before, and though it lasted but a few seconds, it was painful and scary.

That pain was short-lived, but since then, I’ve had to endure, like we all have, seasons of pain

and suffering that go much deeper than physical pain. We all know that life has its ups and

downs, and Jesus even gave his disciples a heads up that “In this world you will have

trouble”, but he was quick to add: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Knowing that Jesus will one day come back, end all suffering, and take us home gives us

hope in our trials. But sometimes, we still wonder why we have to go through it. Why can’t

God just answers our prayers, comes through for us when the Devil harasses us, and heals us when

we’re done being sick and broken?

In The Ministry of Healing, Ellen White shares a beautiful perspective on suffering:

“The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us

something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw nothing in us that might

glorify His name, He would not spend time refining us. He does not cast worthless stones

into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines.

The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire so that he may know what metal they are. The Lord allows his chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to

prove what temper they are made of and whether they can be fashioned for His work. The

potter takes the clay and molds it according to his will. He kneads it and works it. He tears it

apart and presses it together. He wets it and then dries it. He lets it lie for a while without

touching it. When it is perfectly pliable, he continues making it a vessel. He

shapes it, trims it, and polishes it on the wheel. He dries it in the sun and bakes it

in the oven. Thus, it becomes a vessel fit for use. So the great Master Worker desires to mold

and fashion us. And as the clay is in the hands of the potter, so are we to be in His hands.

We are not to try to do the work of the potter. Our part is to yield ourselves to be molded

by the Master Worker.” White, E. G. The Ministry of Healing, pp. 469-471.

Have you ever listened to someone share their struggles with you and not know what

to say because you’ve never experienced anything similar? How about when someone suffers from the same trial you’ve already been through? Now you can

look them in the eyes and say with sincerity: “I think I understand how you feel. I’ve been

there too, and this is how I made it through.”

In the book The Law of Life, Dr. Mark Sandoval describes suffering as a talent we can

use for God’s glory or bury in the sand. He points out that God is not the author of suffering,

but when it comes, He can work it together for good as we read in Romans 8:28. God longs

to comfort all his suffering children, but He needs you and me to do it.

“In God’s great plan for the redemption of a lost race, He has placed Himself under

the necessity of using human agencies as His helping hand. He must have a helping hand to reach humanity. He must cooperate with those who will be active, quick to

see opportunities and discern what must be done for their fellow men.” White, E.G.

Selected Messages Book 1. (p. 99).

Application: What trials has God allowed you to go through? Maybe you’re in the thick of it

right now. Choose today to let God use your trials to refine you and make you into a vessel

He can use it to reach His hurting children in ways no one else can. We each have

unique stories and experiences of suffering, which gives us an exceptional talent. God is waiting

for your willingness to be sent on a mission to a hurting child of His, whom He longs to heal

and set free with your help.

Prayer: Dear Father God, we know that you identify with and feel every hurt that comes our

way. And only You can take all the ashes and turn them into beauty. We want to allow You to

mold us into the kind of vessel that can be used to reach other hurting brothers and sisters.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of sharing in your sufferings and being used by You as

an instrument of healing. There is no greater purpose in our pain than that, and we praise

Thank you for this beautiful truth! Amen.