After my stroke, I discovered that pain doesn’t just break us—it
can shape us and point us back to God’s purpose.
Recently, I shaved my beard down, and my kids immediately asked, “Who’s this stranger in our house?” It made me laugh, but it also made me think. Sometimes life changes us in ways we don’t expect.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned since my stroke is what I call The Gift of Purpose Through Pain. Pain is something we naturally want to avoid. We want it to disappear quickly. But pain can do more than hurt—it can shape us. It strips away distractions and pride, and it forces us to face what really matters.
In my own journey, I began asking deeper questions: Why am I still here? What now? That kind of searching was uncomfortable, but it was also sacred. God began showing me something new: there is purpose in pain.
Romans 8:28 (NLT) reminds us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” Not everything that happens is good—but God can use everything for good.
I don’t believe God caused my stroke, but I do believe He’s using it. He’s reshaping how I love my family, how I walk through each day, how I trust Him with the unknown, and even how I speak.
If you’re facing something hard, don’t rush past it. Ask God: “What are You showing me in this pain?” Let Him turn it into purpose.