April 26, 2020

The Shepherd's Corner

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

In his book, Open Doors, Pastor Rick Warren shares this poignant reminder, “Your pain often reveals God’s purpose for you . . . . The very thing that caused you pain, God wants to use for good in your life . . . . he will use your pain to bring life and healing to others.” I am sure we all can say amen to this. God uses our pain and hurt to bless others, to be with others, and to give them strength and hope.

Nobody understands better how it feels to lose a spouse than you who have lost your loved ones. Nobody understands better how it feels to be so helpless and hopeless than you who have felt helpless and hopeless. And nobody understands better how it feels to be unemployed and so uncertain about the future than you who have been without a fixed income or no income for quite some time.

It is of course understood that the fact that we have gone through a certain pain and hurt does not automatically make us experts in that predicament. No, it certainly does not. Nevertheless, the fact that we have experienced it will make us more sympathetic to those who are experiencing it. Having gone through it we understand better, and this will serve as an open door to those in pain.

Having heard from you in this trying time, I must say that I am impressed by your resilience and high spirits. I have never heard you complain—even you who must be confined in your bedrooms! You have remained positive and upbeat; hunkering down does not have to make you bogged down. I believe you are strong because you have gone through much, and because you have gone through much, you have much—strength and hope—to share with others. Rick Warren calls it, redemptive suffering, when we, like Jesus did, “go through a problem or a pain for the benefit of others.”

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - August 26, 2018
[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER As you already knew Tante Daisy has been receiving treatment in a nursing facility as a result of the fracture she suffered from the fall a couple of weeks ago....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 28, 2023
Honor walk. On Thursday I witnessed something that almost moved me to tears; it’s called an honor walk. It was the last “walk” that Dr. Dandy Lee took before he went to Glory.  I am sure many of you still remember Oom Ping Tiauw and Tante Ansy—both are home with the Lord.  Dandy wa...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - October 20, 2024
On Wednesday, October 2, around noon local time in Jakarta, Jesus Our Lord came to take Oom Hein to his eternal home.  I happened to have arrived the day before but that Wednesday I had a class to teach, so, I planned on visiting him on the day after.  Not knowing that he’d already passe...
Read More