This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2008 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . Click to have messages emailed to you as they are made available. You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.
Turning Pain and Hurt into Joy
By Rev. Greg Johnson
Psalms 13:5
Most everyone at one time or another has placed their trust in someone’s love only to have that love fail them. Maybe it was a spouse, a parent, a child, family or a friend. This week I have received a lot of email from those on the LGF Internet Campus that have asked for prayer because of failed love. Most have been from women and the request has been the same – “pray for me and my children; my husband has left me for another woman”. This is love that has failed a person and it is quite devastating. May God replace their pain and hurt with joy.
Please find encouragement today from God’s Word. The Psalmist wrote (Psalms 13:5 NIV) "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."
You can turn your pain and hurt into joy by focusing on God’s unfailing love for you. He has rescued you with His salvation through Jesus Christ.
God’s love for you is unfailing. It has not failed because of anything you have done in the past. It will not fail because of anything you do in the future.
Please understand that love is not just a feeling, but a set of behaviors. In the Bible, this fact is clearly pointed out in what is referred to the love chapter. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV) "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. {2} If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. {4} Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. {5} It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {6} Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. {7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. {8} Love never fails.”
As this paragraph of Scripture teaches us, love is a behavior. If I am patient and kind, not envious, boastful, proud or rude, I am loving another. Love is a behavior. Loving feelings are the consequence of loving acts. If I have loving behavior toward my wife Becky, she will have loving feelings toward me and I will have loving feelings toward her. There are some married couples that say “we no longer have loving feelings toward each other.” If this is the case, try treating each other with respect. Do kind acts for one another. Instead of being self seeking, live to serve your spouse. Give it a try and see if the loving feelings don’t come. Loving behavior brings loving feelings.
Beloved, God has showed you loving behavior. His behavior shows you patience and kindness and it is not rude or self-seeking. Jesus said (John 3:16 NIV) ""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Wow! That loving behavior for me brings me loving feelings toward God and gives me a desire to exercise loving behavior toward Him by serving Him.
It goes even further. God loves me so much He rescued me. It’s as the old hymn says:
I was sinking deep in sin
Far from the peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within
Sinking to rise no more
But the master of the sea
Heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me
Now save am I
Love lifted me
Love lifted me
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me
God rescued me from a life of sin and gave me peace and joy through Jesus Christ. That is unfailing love and it brings much joy.
Beloved, you can turn your pain and hurt into joy by focusing on God’s unfailing love for you. He has rescued you with His salvation through Jesus Christ. My prayer is that He floods your soul with much joy today as you meditate on these things.
Know that you are loved,
Greg Johnson
www.GAJohnson.org
Founding Pastor
Loving God Fellowship
www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational Christ following fellowship with a revolutionary new church plant in Salem, Oregon, and a worldwide Internet church community @ http://www.LGFinternetChurch.org .
