Thankful for The Pain?

I am thankful for trials, afflictions, sufferings & troubles in this life.  And before you say “That’s crazy.  She’s either nuts or lying”- Let me briefly tell you why I am thankful for the sufferings I’ve experienced- which have been many in my 39 years of life.
Through my most difficult times, I’ve grown closer to God.  It’s in those times when He squeezes out everything in me that is not of Him & He humbles me.  By His Spirit’s power in me, it’s in those times I’ve been given strength to endure that crushing work He’s doing to make me more like Christ.  It’s in these times when He’s shown me His great compassion & amazing mercy as well as His abounding love!  Consequently, I can then give those things in increasing measure to others as well as myself.
The intimacy I’ve found with The Lord during my darkest times have been one of God’s most beautiful gifts because it’s when I find freedom in realizing I’m held when I can’t hold myself up; I’m given breath when I feel like I can’t breathe, and I’ve received grace to move farther in my faith than ever imagined.
“Do you like pain?” you may be asking.  No. I do not.  Do I tantrum when I start feeling it?  Yes.  I fail & fall.  And I do both often!  But The Lord won’t let go- literally- He holds me tight through the pain (even when I’m faithless in that moment; trying to run or even attempting to battle with the very One who made me.).  And then, it happens…
I find this sweet spot.  It’s a place where peace beyond understanding comes, comfort beyond measure is encountered & rest better than any I’ve ever known is found.
So, yes.  Thank You, Father God, for all the trouble I’ve experienced up to present!  When one realizes how it’s our complete dependence upon the Savior’s strength which empowers us to persevere in our weaknesses, we’ll inevitably develop into fully grown up souls who have a greater capacity for love.  And, by virtue, we become more useful vessels to the Father because our own suffering produced in us an increasing measure of His compassion, empathy & mercy for others in pain.  Inescapably, the comfort we have freely received from God has now been imparted to us for them.  And that makes our whole, entire arduous plight worth it!  

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Thanks for reading,
Cristine