When Pain Pauses Your Purpose
Pain’s persistence insists on our immediate acknowledgement. Whether physical or emotional, it nags at us for constant attention and dominates our thoughts. It presses, pinches, and persists as it whispers, “Pay attention to me.” In our distraction, our relationships can suffer.
Naomi, in the Old Testament book of Ruth, portrays this beautifully for us. Her palpable emotions spill off the page as we read about her deep grief. We hear the hollow tones of her soul as she proclaims her despair to the women of Bethlehem in Ruth 1:20-21:
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”
The name Naomi means pleasant, but she didn’t relate to that name. Instead, she chose a name that meant bitterness. Naomi lost hope; her husband and sons were dead. Not only did she lose her loved ones, but she also lost her income and security. She could provide nothing for herself or for others around her. She saw herself as worthless.
I can relate to Naomi. Honestly, I’ve always been a glass-half-full type of person; to say I’m optimistic by nature is an understatement. Disappointment and grief seemed to hunt me over the last couple of years, tearing at my sanguine personality. Like Naomi, hope slipped away after a series of tragic circumstances.
God sent hope to Naomi in the person of Ruth, a young woman who would not give up on her. God fulfilled His promise from Psalm 68:6, “The Lord puts the lonely in families.” If, like me, you can relate to Naomi, look around you.
I’ve lived that promise too. In a season when grief clouded my optimism, God brought young people into my life—unexpected companions who helped restore my sense of purpose and hope.
Maybe you’ve felt like Naomi. But look again. Who has God placed near you—not to solve everything, but to walk with you? Sometimes healing begins with simply noticing who’s still standing beside you.
At first, this person or people may be difficult to see. We can be lonely in a crowd, but God designed us for relationships. Yes, a relationship with Him, but also with others. If you are still breathing, then there is purpose, and our PURPOSE ALWAYS INVOLVES OTHER PEOPLE!
Yes, people disappoint us. People can leave us damaged and scared, but God can use people as the source of our healing. They may only be with us for a season, but don’t underestimate the impact they can have on your life as you interact with them.
Three ways to put your pain to work
- Pray for others. This is the most important tool we possess. Prayer connects us to God and God to the ones we love. Our pain can develop empathy for others in similar situations. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s comfort and direction for others, and then for yourself.
- Invest time in others. Pain drives us to be self-focused. Finding ways to interact with others shifts our focus to the people around us. If you are not ready for face-to-face interaction, start with phone calls or text messages. It is a step toward connecting and moving forward.
- Serve others. God uses this as the ultimate delivery of self-focused behavior. When we truly want to help others, our focus naturally shifts to them. This is especially true when seeking people from other generations. Whether older or younger, we can learn a great deal from them.
So what do you think—are you ready to move from pause to purpose? Join the Dragonfly Family, a community committed to living fruitfully, staying linked in meaningful relationships, and yielding to God’s transformative work. Through our F.L.Y. newsletter, you’ll find encouragement, practical wisdom, and stories that remind you: your pain doesn’t disqualify you—it equips you. Let’s walk this journey together, one purposeful step at a time.
