How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - January 12, 2023, Daily Hope with Rick Warren - Pastor Rick's Daily Hope with Pastor Rick Warren

How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - January 12, 2023

January 12, 2023

rick warrens daily hope new banner may 2022

How God Uses Grief to Help You Grow
By Rick Warren

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Grief, loss, and pain are inevitable parts of life. But did you know that God uses these things to help you grow? He does it in three ways.

First, God uses pain to get your attention. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. You rarely change when you see the light. You change when you feel the heat.

Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT).

Second, God brings good out of bad. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV).

When you experience a loss, it’s an opportunity to grow in character. You can’t control the pain you go through, but you can decide whether it’s going to make you bitter or better. You can decide whether it’s going to be a stepping-stone or a stumbling block. You have to remember that, even in your pain, God is working for your good.

Third, God prepares you for eternity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV).

You’ve probably heard me say before that you’re not taking your car to heaven. You’re not taking your smartphone and your clothes to heaven. You’re not taking your career to heaven. But you are taking your character. You are taking you.

God is more interested in your character development than in your comfort. Why? Because you’ll have plenty of time to live free from pain and sorrow in heaven, but now is not the time for that; this is the get-ready stage. This is the learning stage. This is the warm-up act. God uses your troubles here on Earth to get you ready for an eternal glory. That’s a comfort.

When you’re in pain, you need to ask, “What is God doing?” Is he trying to get your attention? Is he trying to bring good out of bad? Is he preparing your character for heaven?

No matter what, you can trust that God will use your pain to help you grow.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

Find the Key to the Life You’re Looking For!

Some say the key to the good life is health, others say material wealth—but what does God say?

Find out in Pastor Rick’s dynamic Bible study, The Keys to a Blessed Life. This 6-session video plus workbook study reveals the secret to the abundant life God promises by exploring Jesus’ most well-known sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

Dive deep into the Beatitudes with Pastor Rick to discover the hopeful and purpose-filled life God has planned for you through messages like . . .

• How God Blesses Broken Hearts
• Your Ministry of Mercy
• How to Reconcile a Relationship
• Handling Opposition to Your Faith
• And more!

The Keys to a Blessed Life is our thanks for your gift below to take the Word of God to a world in need, so ask for your copy when you give today. Thank you!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.

Featured Offer

The Keys to a Blessed Life Scripture Cards

Getting God's Word into your heart is essential if you want to live a life of integrity and experience God's blessings. Dive into his word with The Keys to a Blessed Life Scripture Cards. You'll discover his blessings as you: Claim God's promises for your life, Walk with integrity in your relationships, and Deepen your relationship with Jesus. This set of 52 artfully designed cards can be used to help you memorize Scripture. You can read each Scripture and then use the space on the back to make notes or write out the verse. You can also use them to minister to others. Give one to a friend and write a personalized note of encouragement on the back. If a Scripture really speaks to you, frame it! Put them in places where you can read them during the day for encouragement.

About Pastor Rick Warren

As founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book The Purpose Driven Life is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 90 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in multiple formats. As a theologian, he has lectured at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, University of Judaism, and dozens of universities and seminaries. As a global strategist, he advises world leaders and has spoken to the United Nations, US Congress, Davos Economic Forum, TED, Aspen Institute, and numerous parliaments.

Pastor Rick also founded the Global PEACE Plan, which Plants churches of reconciliation, Equips leaders, Assists the poor, Cares for the sick, and Educates the next generation in 196 countries. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, or sign up for his free daily devotionals at PastorRick.com.

Pastor Rick's Daily Hope

Pastor Rick Warren