According to Warren, God intends to use the painful experiences in life for a greater good, especially for those who trust in Him. The key reasons not to waste suffering include:
Character Development: God is more interested in developing your character for eternity than in your temporary comfort. Pain can build resilience and shape you into the image of Christ.
A Source of Ministry: Your "greatest ministry will come out of your deepest pain". Sharing how you navigated a struggle (e.g., addiction, illness, loss) allows you to connect deeply with others facing similar issues and offer them hope and support.
Drawing Closer to God and Others: Pain often makes people realize their need for God and for other people, deepening their faith and human connections.
Learning Valuable Lessons: Difficult times provide opportunities to pause, reflect, and extract important spiritual truths and lessons you might otherwise miss. Writing down these lessons helps ensure the experience isn't wasted and allows you to share them with future generations.
A Warning Signal: Pain can serve as a warning that something is wrong in your life (e.g., in relationships, attitudes, or physical health) that needs addressing. Ignoring it won't fix the underlying issue.
Warren emphasizes that while pain is inevitable, misery is a choice in how you respond to it. By consciously choosing to use pain for good, you can become "better rather than bitter". You can learn more about this perspective on Warren's Daily Hope website or through his sermons available online.
"Offer it up" is a spiritual practice, primarily Catholic, meaning to unite personal suffering, struggles, or even small daily annoyances with Jesus' Passion, transforming them into prayers for a greater purpose like salvation or personal sanctification, rather than just enduring them passively. It's about finding meaning in pain by offering it to God, often for specific intentions, turning everyday challenges into a form of spiritual sacrifice and love
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