Where is God in the Pain by Dr. Michelle Bengston

Our guest blogger today is Dr. Michelle Bengston. Dr. Bengtson is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist with more than 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of medical and mental disorders in children, adults, and seniors. She has been in private practice for more than a decade of that time. Dr. Bengston has worked extensively with patients suffering from chronic mental illness, traumatic brain injury, stroke, seizures, learning disabilities, attention and memory disorders, developmental disorders, and psychological difficulties. She is a speaker and author of Hope Prevails. She also has a newly released Hope Prevails Bible study. Visit Dr. Bengston at: http://drmichellebengtson.com.

Does your heart ever ache, and you wonder, “Where is God in the pain?”

It had been a year of constant trial: my husband had cancer, we had been burglarized twice, fourteen weeks with pneumonia, and the office endured a complete staff overhaul, for starters.

Some days I just wanted God to rescue me; other days I wondered where He was. Looking back, He taught me a number of valuable lessons through the pain:

1) God promises, what the enemy intends for harm, He will use for good!

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

2) He is kind; He doesn’t do things to hurt you.

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

3) Sometimes God rescues us, but sometimes, He allows trials to develop our character or our trust in Him.

“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:6-7)

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

4) Scripture warns that we can expect trouble, but God assures us He has overcome it all. Because of that, we can stay at peace.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

5) He promises that even through we will go through difficult, painful times, that won’t be the end of us, and He will be with us.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

6) Even when God allows us to go through difficult times, we have the assurance that He will work all things—even our pain, for our good and for His glory.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)

7) We can take comfort knowing that even when He doesn’t rescue us from pain, it has a purpose in our lives.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)