How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow

[How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow]( Current Teaching Series [Living in the Goodness of God]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow]( By Rick Warren — 01/12/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) Grief, loss, and pain are inevitable parts of life. But did you know that God uses these things to help you grow? He does it in three ways. First, God uses pain to get your attention. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. You rarely change when you see the light. You change when you feel the heat. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT). Second, God brings good out of bad. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV). When you experience a loss, it’s an opportunity to grow in character. You can’t control the pain you go through, but you can decide whether it’s going to make you bitter or better. You can decide whether it’s going to be a stepping-stone or a stumbling block. You have to remember that, even in your pain, God is working for your good. Third, God prepares you for eternity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV). You’ve probably heard me say before that you’re not taking your car to heaven. You’re not taking your smartphone and your clothes to heaven. You’re not taking your career to heaven. But you are taking your character. You are taking you. God is more interested in your character development than in your comfort. Why? Because you’ll have plenty of time to live free from pain and sorrow in heaven, but now is not the time for that; this is the get-ready stage. This is the learning stage. This is the warm-up act. God uses your troubles here on Earth to get you ready for an eternal glory. That’s a comfort. When you’re in pain, you need to ask, “What is God doing?” Is he trying to get your attention? Is he trying to bring good out of bad? Is he preparing your character for heaven? No matter what, you can trust that God will use your pain to help you grow. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - What does it mean that God is working for your good? Does it mean that God only lets good things happen to believers? - Why is it often easier to focus on today’s realities than on the promises of heaven? - How can you prepare yourself now so that you are ready to hear from God when you are in a time of pain? The post [How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= [Get the Open Doors Devotional Book when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( The abundant life you were made for starts with regularly seeking God and spending time in his Word. Kick off 2023 with this life-changing daily habit using Pastor Rick’s 365-day devotional, Open Doors. Each entry in this beautiful hardcover features a Scripture reading and short devotional from Pastor Rick to help you experience the love, trust, and freedom that comes from a deeper relationship with God. You’ll discover God’s wisdom to: • Resolve conflict • Conquer fear • Reduce stress • Build healthy relationshipss • Overcome temptations • And so much more! [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 12 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series Living in the Goodness of God. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Is God Really Good All the Time? Message 2: Letting God Meet My Needs Message 3: Relaxing in God’s Goodness Message 4: How God’s Goodness Can Restore You Message 5: How to Be Led by God’s Spirit Message 6: The God of My Valleys Message 7: How Jesus Treats His Sheep Message 8: How God Lifts Me Up When I’m Worn Down Message 9: Living an Anointed Life Message 10: From Overwhelmed to Overflowing Message 11: Why You Don’t Need to Fear the Future Message 12: Heaven: God’s Eternal Goodness to You [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? 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