If you're in chronic pain, have you been hurt by others, especially people in church? Have you heard things like these?:
"-Don't talk about your pain.
-Don't talk negatively. Be more positive.
-You're not healed because you don't have enough faith.
-Don't give light to your illness, disease, or pain.
-You must have done something bad or have great sin in your life. Deal with it and God will heal you.
-Don't claim your illness, disease, or pain.
-Don't say it's 'your' pain.
-God healed me, so I know He will heal you.
-You need to exercise, eat better, and take vitamins, supplements, etc. ..and the illness will go away.
-etc..."
When you hear these things, it can really hurt and stab your spirit. I know, all of those things I have heard. These aren't appropriate ways to talk to a person who's in pain. People need to be encouraged, not put down.
I have never heard a sermon quite like the one I heard on Sunday. Pastor Dan talks about adversity and dealing with pain. He exbounds on how Paul, in the Bible, wasn't healed. And how God used him in his pain.
Please listen to the sermon below. May it encourage and uplift you, as it did me. Click on the link to hear about "How Do You Deal With Adversity? Part 2"
http://subspla.sh/14f2246
2 Corinthians 12 : 7-9 (NIV)
"... Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
