New Mercies Daily!
MESSAGE TITLE:
“God’s Plan In Your Pain: When The Storm Won’t Stop”
DATE: 05/02/25
BY: EFFIONG ETOK – CARRIER OF GOD’S WORD
SCRIPTURE TEXT :
Job 23:8-10 – “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; On the left hand where He works, but I cannot behold Him; He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“God does not waste pain-He refines us through it.”
INSTRUCTION
A young mother stood in a hospital room, staring at the lifeless body of her only son. She had prayed-oh, how she had prayed. But heaven seemed silent. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered, “God, why? Why didn’t You come through for me?”
Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever prayed, but the answers never came? Have you ever walked through a season of life where nothing made sense, and you felt abandoned by God?
Today, I want to remind you: even when you don’t see Him, He is still working-especially if you are His child (1 John 3:9).
God’s Presence in Pain
Job understood suffering. He lost everything-his children, his wealth, his health. In Job 23:8-9, he cried, “I go forward, but He is not there… I cannot perceive Him.” Pain can make us feel like God has left us.
You pray, but no answers come.
You cry, but heaven is silent.
You worship, but all you feel is emptiness.
A grieving widow once sat in her house for weeks, whispering, “God, are You still there?” Then one day, she heard a quiet voice in her heart: “I never left you. I was carrying you through it all.”
Let me pause. Let the silence speak.
Even when you don’t see Him, God is there.
The Purpose in Pain
Job 23:10 says, “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Gold is only purified through fire. Your suffering is not meaningless.
Some of the strongest believers have walked through the deepest valleys. Your pain is not waste-God is refining you, preparing you for something greater.
Isaiah 43:2 declares: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned.” God never promised a life without storms. He promised His presence in the storm.
You may feel like you’re walking alone, but God is carrying you.
REFLECTION
Today, I want to talk about those moments-the moments when the storm won’t stop, when the pain won’t end, when God seems silent.
Think about the hardest season of your life. That moment you felt abandoned. That moment you almost lost your faith.
But I also want to remind you: even when you can’t see Him, He is still working particularly.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, I am weary, I am broken, and I don’t understand this pain-but even in my tears, I surrender! Hold me, heal me, and remind me that You are still with me, even when I cannot see or feel You! In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen!
2. Lord, I feel like I am drowning in this storm, but today I declare: My pain will not destroy me! My suffering will not define me! What the enemy meant for evil, turn it for my testimony! Lift me out of this darkness and let my life glorify You! In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen!
3. Jesus, my heart is shattered, my faith is weak, and my strength is gone. But I lift my hands to You-carry me through this valley, wipe my tears, and restore my joy! Let this suffering become the very place where I encounter Your power like never before! In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen!
