When the Hurt Becomes the Hand of God
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
There are seasons in life when the weight feels unbearable. The pressures do not let up, the burdens seem constant, and the heart grows tired from carrying what feels like too much for too long. In those moments, it is easy to wonder what God is doing—or even if He is doing anything at all. Yet, as A. W. Tozer wisely said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” That truth is not meant to wound us further, but to help us see that God often does His deepest work in our deepest pain.
Paul understood this kind of suffering. He pleaded with God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” but God did not take it away. Instead, God gave him something greater—His grace. Not a future promise only, but a present, sustaining strength. Pain has a way of stripping away our self-reliance. It humbles us, quiets us, and brings us to a place where we are no longer trusting in our own ability to carry life, but fully leaning on God. And while that process is painful, it is also powerful. God is not wasting your hurt—He is shaping you through it.
Right now, you may not see the harvest of what God is doing. You may only feel the weight of it. But the very place that feels like breaking may actually be the place where God is building something deeper in you—greater faith, greater dependence, and a closer walk with Him. He is near to the brokenhearted. He is not absent in your struggle; He is present in it. And His grace is not just enough—it is exactly what you need for this moment.
Write a short prayer honestly expressing your hurt to God—just as you feel it. Then end it by thanking Him for His grace, even before you see the outcome.
When the pressure feels overwhelming, stop and whisper this truth: “God, I don’t understand this—but I will trust that You are working through it.”
"It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man." — Psalm 118:8
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Forty-Five • November 8, 2026
What are you Seeking? (Part 2)
In this message, "What are you Seeking? (Part 2)," Pastor Burns explains how many people search for meaning and purpose in all the wrong places. Just as Solomon sought fulfillment in worldly success and great wealth only to find it vanity and vexation of spirit, listeners will learn that true answers cannot be found in dead works, rituals, or philosophies.
Turning to John 20, listeners will hear how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb searching for Jesus and discovered that He had risen. Pastor Burns shares how the reality of Christ’s resurrection provides eternal life, encouraging everyone to choose life, since Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life."
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