Pain Is the Gatekeeper to Destiny

How Hard Times Can Lead You to God’s Plan

May 20, 2025

Welcome friend,

I’m Mark, and this space is for the wanderers, the worn out, and the ones still wrestling with God at 2 a.m. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does—and I’m learning to trust Him more.

If this message meets you where you are, stick around. Subscribe, share, or simply pray with me as we walk this narrow road together.

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Pain shows up when we least expect it. It messes up our lives, our plans, and our peace. Sometimes it comes from someone hurting us. Other times, it comes from sickness or a hard season we didn’t ask for. But what if pain is actually the way God leads us to something greater?

Following Jesus Isn’t Easy

Jesus never said following Him would be easy. In Luke 9:23, He said, “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

That means we have to let go of our own way and be ready to go through hard times. The first Christians were beaten, thrown in jail, and even killed because they followed Jesus. But God used their suffering to change the world.

Pain didn’t stop their purpose. It was the doorway to it.

My Wreck Changed Everything

In January 2020, I was in a terrible car wreck. I needed a metal hip and a long time to heal. But the hardest part wasn’t my injury. It was that the person driving, someone I trusted, left me at the scene.

I felt alone, scared, and heartbroken. The pain I felt wasn’t just in my body—it was deep in my heart. That’s when I started to see that pain wasn’t the end. It was the start of something new.

Why Christians Suffer

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

That means we will go through hard things. People may laugh at us, hate us, or leave us out because we follow Jesus. But God uses that pain to grow our faith and make us stronger.

Pain molds you. It builds you. It shapes you. It teaches you to trust God more than yourself.

Suffering Comes Before the Blessing

Jesus said in John 12:24, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

Just like a seed has to break open before it grows, we sometimes have to break before we grow.

Your pain is not wasted. That heartbreak? God can use it to teach you how to love deeper. That sickness? God can use it to grow your faith. That struggle? God can use it to show you how to help others.

Jesus Knows How You Feel

Jesus knows what pain feels like. He was beaten, betrayed, and killed on a cross. But He didn’t fight back. He forgave. And because of His pain, we have the chance to be saved.

You are not alone in your pain. Jesus walks with you through it.

What You Can Do When Life Hurts

Pray honestly—tell God everything.
Read one Bible verse a day about pain or hope.
Talk to a trusted adult or Christian friend.
Ask God to show you how He’s working in your pain.

Conclusion

Pain doesn’t mean God is far away. It might be the very thing that brings you closer to Him. God uses our pain to help us grow, build our faith, and show us His plan.

So when life gets hard, don’t give up. Trust that God is working, even in the pain.

Call to Repentance:
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.

Call to Action:
If this message spoke to your heart, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with someone you love—and make sure to subscribe so you never miss more biblical truth, encouragement, and hope. Let’s walk this journey of faith together.

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