1) The document discusses how suffering and pain can lead to spiritual growth as people learn to rely on God and find meaning in their struggles. 2) It provides several biblical examples of figures like Jesus, Job, and Paul who endured hardship and persecution but through it drew closer to God and brought him glory. 3) Key ideas presented include that suffering strengthens character, helps people learn about God and his comfort, and shows one's need for him which can result in greater faith, gratitude, and understanding.

1. Pain Can Lead to Gain
Growing Stronger Through Suffering and Pain

2. Hatred for God’s People Some people hated Jesus , too

3. The Pain of our Jewish Neighbors Now
• "There is a bomb in one of the children's backpacks
and it's going to detonate shortly," one said.
• "The Jews will be decimated," a voice warned.
• 100 Threats in two months!
• Thousands of Jewish children and parents
targeted…in America.

4. -Job 5:7
“People are born for trouble as readily as
sparks fly up from a fire.”

5. All Christians Suffer
• “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of
God.” (Acts 14:22)
• “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Tim. 3:12)
• "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me
first.” (John 15:18)
• “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world.” (Jesus in John 16:33)

6. “Some were tortured, refusing to accept
release… Others suffered mocking and
flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they
were killed with the sword.
They went about in skins of sheep and goats,
destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the
world was not worthy—wandering about in
deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves
of the earth.” (Heb. 11:32-38)

7. If God Loves Me…
Why Am I in so much Pain?

8. Losing Fathers, Mothers, Friends & Betrayal by Those
You Trusted

9. Not feeling Wanted or Loved

10. Deep Grief, Depression and Molestation

11. Knowing Keeps Us Going with God
• Pain without purpose -> despair and rebellion
• So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had
said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had
become too discouraged by the brutality of their
slavery.” (Ex. 6:9)
• “When people do not accept divine guidance, they
run wild…” (Prov. 29:18)

12. Man’s Search for Meaning
By Dr. Viktor Frankl
• If they found meaning in their
suffering, they lived.
• “When we are no longer able to
change a situation, we are
challenged to change
ourselves.”
• "Everything can be taken from
a man but one thing-- to
choose one's attitude in any
given set of circumstances,
to choose one's own way…In
our response lies our growth
and our freedom.”

13. Character
• Character cannot be
developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experience of trial
and suffering can the soul be
strengthened, ambition
inspired, and success
achieved.”~~ Helen Keller

14. Gains from Pains
• You learn more about God: Ps. 119:71: “It was good for me
to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”
• “If I’d never had a problem, I’d never know that God could
solve them…” ( Andre Crouch in Through It All)
• Heb. 5:8: “Jesus learned obedience by the things He
suffered”
• You learn how to comfort others: 2 Cor. 1:4: “ He comforts
us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When
they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same
comfort God has given us.”

15. Gains from Pains
• Suffering can show us our need for God.
• “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But
He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is
perfected in weakness." ( 2 For. 12:8-9)
• Our suffering can bring glory to God:
• Job: His trust in God brought glory to God in heaven & hell
• Jesus: But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was
crushed for our iniquities…” (Is. 53:5)
• Paul: “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

16. Gain in Pain
• You don’t know what you believe until you have to
• No pain, no gain
• Our greatest trials give us our greatest triumphs
• You will never understand some things about God or
yourself until you are desperate
• Great pain can produce a clarity of thought, a grasp of
truth and a gratitude for almost everything that is more
precious than the lack of pain.

17. But What If You Don’t Understand?

18. -Bill Johnson
"In heaven, there will not be any pain,
confusion or loss. So I embrace my moment of
pain and give Him praise in the midst of it,
because that is an offering I will never get
to give Him in heaven.".