2. turning towards pain is completely counterintuitive

3. Quite often our greatest spiritual growth comes through times of challenge, strife and pain.
The numbing practices common in our world are not only dangerous in and of themselves, but they also prevent our effective spiritual and emotional growth.

5. Job’s Response
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:20-22)

8. Job paid attention to both his pain AND God’s presence in his pain.
Job embraced his limits and practiced humility.

9. Understanding our Limits and Practicing Humility
“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:27-30)

10. Job’s suffering was a vital part of his story and a significant part of his spiritual growth, but it was only a part of the story, not the whole story. Out of his pain and loss came spiritual growth and blessing. Often in order for us to become more spiritually mature and fruitful, we have to experience such “mini-deaths”.

11. Are you willing to trust that not only is God present with you in your suffering, but that He is also leading you through it for your own growth and development and His increasing glory?