JOHN 16:33, NIV, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” A SUMMARY OF OVERCOMING THROUGH THE BEATITUDES: MATTHEW 5:3-12, NIV, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” • “HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY POOR.” • “HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.” • “HAPPY ARE THE MEEK.” • “HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART.” • “HAPPY ARE THOSE WHOSE DESIRE IS TO DO WHAT GOD REQUIRES.” • “HAPPY ARE THE MERCIFUL.” • “HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.” GOD WANTS TO RECYCLE THE PAIN IN YOUR LIFE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHER PEOPLE… WHY HAS GOD ALLOWED MY PAIN? 1. HE HAS GIVEN ME A FREE WILL 2. HE USES PAIN TO GET OUR ATTENTION PROVERBS 20:23 “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.” 2 CORINTHIANS 7:9-10, NLT, “Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” 3. GOD USES PAIN TO TEACH ME TO DEPEND ON HIM 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-10, NIV, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even in life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…” 4. GOD ALLOWS PAIN TO GIVE ME A MINISTRY TO OTHERS 2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us…” HOW DO I USE MY PAIN TO HELP OTHERS? 1 PETER 3:15, NIV, “...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for your hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 3 SUGGESTIONS IN SHARING YOUR STORY: 1. BE HUMBLE 2. BE RESPECTFUL 3. BE REAL 4. BE KIND 5. DON’T LECTURE 1 JOHN 5:5, NIV, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”