Turning Pain into Power

I know what it’s like to hold your new baby and feel nothing because of postpartum depression and trauma. I know what it’s like to second guess everything you say and do out of fear and insecurity. And what it’s like to worry about my kids issues and try to hold broken relationships together unsuccessfully. I know failure. I know sin. I know pain. No more or less than you. But Friends, I tell you this because I know you often feel like you’re the only one going through that “thing”. But you’re not. We’re ALL messed up and we ALL need Jesus–and each other.

It’s uncomfortable to tell our weaknesses, especially in the Christian community where often we hide our hard. But I want to tell you, God greatly desires to HEAL and USE all your pain and weaknesses. I’ve learned living through hard things with Jesus is your greatest asset in God’s kingdom.

Do you know I started this blog out of hurt?

As I got to know Jesus through reading Scripture and he started healing my heart in lots of ways, and I couldn’t keep the good news of His love to myself. I pictured you searching for answers like I did.(God are you real? Do you care? Do you see me? Can you even do anything about this “thing”??) And needing a safe space to work out thoughts like I did. And my empathy for you outweighed my desire to look awesome. 

That’s why I do this. That’s why I’m here. And I wanted to renew my reason “why” today just so you know the heart behind this space. Every Christian is being built, it’s a process, I’m still learning and growing and healing just like you. But God has used all my pain and weaknesses for your strength as I speak freely of my brokenness and His goodness.

And I bet someone needs you to be that for them.

I bet you are a well of empathy too. You’ve lived through some hard stuff too. And because of that, you see others’ pain better. It sinks into you and God prompts you to reach out because you can’t stand to leave someone in that space alone.

That is you doing God’s work. It’s you allowing the Lord to redeem your weakness to be someone else’s strength. Revealing your hard for someone else’s good is brave and beautiful. It takes vulnerability, compassion and faith.

I recently attended the IF:gathering online event and listened to Pastor Mike Todd speak on being an anchor for others. That sometimes people need us to be an anchor they can hold onto before than can hold onto Jesus. Oh man, it struck my heart.

Who in your life is reaching out their hand and needs an anchor? Who is where you were and needs you to say, “I know, I’ve been there, let me hold onto you while you weather this storm.” Only Jesus can heal our inner wounds, but the body of Christ, You and I, can give to others what we’ve received from God.

Let’s allow God to transform our pain into power. Let’s give away whatever goodness we’ve receive from God in the hard. And be a little anchor of hope and love in our homes and communities.

Whether you’re a new believer, a veteran Jesus lover, a mom, a wife, a friend, or simply a person getting through the ups and downs of life–may you find healing and strength in Jesus and may He embolden you to care for others with the same care He’s shown you. Amen.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinth 1:3-5).

If you read this far that means we’re two peas in a pod. Jot your email down to GET this month’s from ME to YOU freebie…and so I can connect with you more! We’re in this together!

Andrea Chatelain’s mission is to meet women in their struggles and love them forward with God’s truth. She’s a Midwest mom of three, faith and family writer, and college English instructor to immigrants and refugees. She believes Jesus transforms lives when His people boldly seek Him. Her writing reflects her love for Jesus and heart for fellow believers.

Grow in faith with Andrea’s video Devotionals on Our Daily Bread! Or follow her on Facebook/Instagram.