Yes, it is absolutely true, the pain of broken relationships, of disappointment, of offence, of injustice, can be turned into gain through exercising the faith that God has made available to all of us.

One thing you can be certain about is that your heavenly father loves you and wants so much to turn your pain into gain . All that needs to happen, is for you to believe His word and co-operate with it.

The following is a good and true example, which you can read for yourself in 2 Kings 4 v 1-7. A widow woman was still feeling the pain of bereavement when the creditors came to take away her two sons as bondsmen. In those days if you could not pay your bill, the law allowed the creditors to take the children. She had lost her husband, her income, now she was about to loose her good name and her sons. The pain was unbearable but she cried unto Elisha the profit and that's when good things began to happen. We have all suffered loss but something has been done about our loss.

Jesus the son of God came to seek and to save that which was lost. That's why he died on the cross in our place and rose again so that we could be free from eternal loss and gain salvation and eternal life. Ephesians 2 v 8.

Jesus said in John 10 v 10, I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. He has given us His life so that we can overcome fear, anxiety, depression, destructive habits and addictions. Now we can reign in life according to Romans 5 v 17, but we must stop waiting for God to do the receiving for us, He has done the giving and now it is our responsibility and privilege to take by faith what is ours in Christ.

Notice the steps this widow took in 2 Kings 4, to turn her pain into gain.

1. She called on the Lord, Elisha heard her cry and helped her receive from God through discovering what she had. Romans 10 v 13 says that who so ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
   
2. She still had hope, even after all her losses she kept her hope alive, Colossians 1 v 27 says Christ is in us the hope of Glory. Never give up hope you have been named in God's will. Read the bible and find out what is yours.
   
3. She exercised faith and obedience. When Elisha asked her what she had, she remembered the little pot of oil, even though it seemed so small. We all have more than we think we have.

We have God's provision available to us through the cross, we have forgiveness of all our sins the moment we repent and invite Jesus into our hearts. This widow obeyed God and poured out the oil vessel and the oil kept increasing and flowing until every vessel was full. Then he said 'go sell the oil pay your debt and live,you and your family, off the rest'. That gave her enough to take care of her past situation, her present and future. God's miracle power will flow into your life when you take the time to obey His word and exercise your faith by living your life daily in line with His word and that only happens as you daily meditate on His word. Her family were kept together, her debt was paid, her good name was preserved and her pain was turned into gain.

I invite you to come along to Jordanstown Christian Centre, 646 Shore Road, Whiteabbey, Sunday at 11.00am and 7.00pm. I also invite you to watch 'Deciding Your Destiny' each Monday night at 10.00pm on 'Sky', Inspirational Network International, channel no. 678.

Dr. Cecil Stewart O.B.E