Intention in Pain

In Psalm 35 (here @ BibleGateway), David lists all many of the ways, if not all, that his enemies are acting against him.

Verse	Action
1	Contend with David
1	Fight against David
3	Pursue him
4	Seek his life
4	Devise evil against him
7	Hid a net for him
7	Dug a pit for his soul
11	Ask of him thing he did not know
12	Repay him evil for the good he did
15	Rejoice at his stumbling
15	Smiters gathered around him
15	Slandered him without ceasing
16	Gnashed at him with their teeth
19	Hate him without cause
20	Do not speak peace
20	Devise deceit against the innocent
21	Open their mouth wide against him
21	Said Aha our eyes have seen it
26	Rejoice at my distress
26	Magnify themselves over him

There are 20 issues or actions David’s enemies take against him on that list.  In 2 Corinthians 6:1 – 10 (here @ BibleGateway), one of Paul’s long sentences, Paul shares a similar list.  Challenges he faced in serving the Lord.  David is called a man after God’s own heart, 1 Samuel 13:14 (here @ BibleGateway), Acts 13:22 (here @ BibleGateway).  Paul was God’s chosen instrument to the Gentiles Acts 9:12 (here @ BibleGateway).  When God stated that about Paul, He told Ananias He would show Paul how much he must suffer for Him.

If it is the case that Psalm 139:3 (here @ BibleGateway) is true, God knows what we are going through.  If it is the case that Ephesians 2:10 (here @ BibleGateway) is true, God has a specific work that He wants us to do.  If 1 Corinthians 12 (here @ BibleGateway), Romans 12 (here @ BibleGateway), and Ephesians 4:11 – 16 (here @ BibleGateway) are true, God gives gifts intentionally in the body for the purpose of equipping us and building us up in Him.  Additionally, if 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 (here @ BibleGateway) and John 16:13 (here @ BibleGateway) are true He has given us His Word in order to equip us for every good work and to know Him.

Whatever we are going through, whether it is hard, painful, difficult, joyful, whatever… it is intentional in our lives.  It is purposeful.  It is shaping us into the tool that will bring Him glory.