How We Learn from Pain

by Rick Warren — January 11, 2024
From God’s Amazing Promises

“God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes.”

Job 36:15 (GNT)

There are some things we only learn through pain—and sometimes it’s through the pain of other people.

It’s wise to learn from your own experiences, but it’s wiser to learn from the experiences of others—and to let others learn from your pain. You don’t have time to make all the mistakes yourself! That’s why it’s important to learn from each other’s mistakes—but only if we are honest about how God uses pain to get our attention and teach us lessons.

Job 36:15 says, “God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes” (GNT).

What does God want you to understand about the distress you’re going through right now? What are you learning? Once you’ve learned it, he wants you to pass those lessons on to others.

We all go through different kinds of trouble. But no matter what your specific pain is, God wants you to learn these three things from it:

First, you learn to depend more on God through your pain. God wants to teach you about himself—about his power through your weakness, his love when you feel unlovely, his grace when you feel unforgiven, and his wisdom when you don’t know which way to turn.

Second, you learn to trust and obey God’s Word when you’re in pain. It’s easy to trust God when things are going great. It’s not so easy when things are going bad.

King David said in Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word” (NIV). Lessons learned through failure and painful mistakes will drive you to claim and trust in God’s promises. His Word provides hope that he is with you and has not stopped working for you and in you.

Third, you learn through pain that you need other people. If you never had any pain in your life, you wouldn’t think you needed anybody. It’s only in pain that some people admit that they need others to help them. Pain is one of the most powerful reminders that you’re not meant to go through life alone.

If you’re going through pain right now, trust that what God is teaching you will be helpful to others as you pass the lessons on to friends, family, and even future generations.

Talk It Over

  • What is one of the most profound lessons you have learned from someone else’s painful mistake?
  • Why does being open about your pain require humility?
  • Can you think of someone who would benefit from the lessons you are learning from your painful experience? What will you do to share about it with them this week?

God loves you, no matter what you’ve done.

Because we’re human, we’ve taken Satan’s bait and been hooked into sin more times than we can count. But no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know that when I die I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I confess I have ignored you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and turn toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I ask you to save me from the sins and the habits that are messing up my life right now. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed the prayer above, please write and tell me at [email protected]. I’d like to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.