Many of us pray and sing songs, expressing, “Here I am, use me, Lord.” We feel privileged to be the one God uses in order to show His glory, until it becomes challenging. Then we don’t want to be part of it all anymore and start questioning, “Why me? Why did it have to happen this way?” It’s important to understand that God’s purpose goes beyond showcasing His glory in any circumstance; He also seeks to transform us from within.

In Genesis 22:1-19, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, he obediently prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice on an altar. Just as he was about to carry out the sacrifice, an angel intervened, sparing Isaac’s life. I can’t even imagine how broken Abraham must have felt when God asked this of him, but God aimed to teach him trust. This must have been painful – obeying without knowing what will really happen. But Abraham trusted. When his son remarked, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”, Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” He knew God would show up. You see, for us to experience God’s saving mercy in the rescue of our situation, our obedience is of utmost importance. And sometimes, it hurts.

With all that said, if God allows you to be hurt in the process, it’s because He intends to use it for a greater purpose. You might wonder, “Doesn’t God care about my feelings?” He does care, but in the process of creating something new, God often needs to deconstruct the old. I’m not dismissing your pain; I’m sure it is undoubtedly painful. However, it is important that you rise above it because you are destined for something greater than yourself, something more significant than whatever you are currently enduring.