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Recycling My Pain
I. A SUMMARY OF RECOVERY: THE BEATITUDES (Matthew 5:3–12) “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Vs3
Realize I’m not God; I admit I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.
“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Vs 4
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
“Happy are the meek.” Vs 5
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
“Happy are the pure in heart.” Vs 8
Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
“Happy are those whose desire is to do what God requires.” Vs 6
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects.
“Happy are the merciful. Happy are the peacemakers.” Vs 7
Examine all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.
Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to do it.
Yield myself to God to be used to bring the Good News to others by both my example and my words.
II. WHY GOD ALLOWED MY PAIN
1. HE’S GIVEN ME A FREE WILL
Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord’s teachings. Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart. Psalms 119:1-2 (NCV)
2. TO GET MY ATTENTION
Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you change your lives. 2 Corinthians 7:9a (NCV)
3. TO TEACH ME TO DEPEND ON HIM
We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8b–9 (NCV)
4. TO GIVE ME A MINISTRY TO OTHERS
He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us
“[They] intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20
III. HOW TO USE MY PAIN TO HELP OTHERS
Suggestions: Be HUMBLE, BE REAL, DON’T LECTURE
“Always be prepared to give an account to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15
Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. Galatians 6:1 (NCV)
I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace. Acts 20:24 (NCV)
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