Pain, Peace, and Purpose by Hannah Beasley.

Hello everyone!

Today, I am beyond excited to share that we have a guest writer (and one of my students!!!) named Hannah, who has agreed to share a sermon she recently gave to our youth group.

Hannah Beasley is an upcoming senior at Valley High School in Chambers County, Alabama. Hannah enjoys volunteering within her community and working with children. Hannah hopes to share the Lord's word, and for others to feel God's compassion and kindness through her.

(On a personal note, I fully consider Hannah a little sister in the faith, and I am convinced her wise words will serve and bless you today.) Please enjoy this sermon transcript from my sweet friend.

Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for letting us gather tonight. For letting all of these wonderful youth and youth pastors come together and worship you. Let your will be heard through tonight’s lesson, and I ask that you help these youth to know their value and worth. It’s in your name I pray, Amen.

#1 Pain:

So there’s a few topics I want to touch base on tonight, the first being pain. It’s something we all feel. We feel it daily even in small portions. Pain isn’t just physical pain when your body aches, but can be felt emotionally in your heart. Pain can be failing a test, losing a game, or losing someone close to us. Earlier this year, my favorite math teacher and my great-grandmother passed away on the same day. I couldn’t believe it. Everything happened soo fast. It felt like a terrible dream that I would wake up soon, but I didn't. Going to Coach Power’s memorial and Mama Lib’s funeral just felt like a knife in the heart. How could God allow so much pain in my life at once? I know all of you have felt pain, maybe you’re feeling it today. Pain is hard to deal with. We question why we have to deal with pain. If God loves us, why does he allow us to endure suffering? God doesn’t promise a pain free life, but He does promise to be with us during our trials. He’s always by our sides, even in our darkest moments. Isaiah 55:9 says, ““As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Our plan doesn't even come close to His plan. He has this incredible book of each of our lives written. This pain is just a small chapter. You all know what a climax is right? Just in case you don’t, a climax is the exciting part of a book or movie, when things get good. Sometimes we feel that we are in the falling action which is when things go downhill. But God is there through everything. He is with you when you fall, He’s with you when you’re at the climax, and he’s with you when the chapter ends and a new one begins. Pain is temporary, but God’s love is forever.

#2 Peace:

The next thing I want to talk about is peace. We talked about pain and how we question why we have pain. How pain is hard. One thing I struggle with is trying to be okay with it. There’s times when I feel like I can’t handle the struggles and pray to God asking him to take away the pain. But lately, I’ve prayed for something different. I’ve prayed for peace. Peace to be okay with what is going on. Peace to be able to handle the trials. Peace to allow the changes in my life to take place and know that God is doing something amazing. It’s not easy, it’s very hard to be at peace with a path that you didn’t want to take. But it’s worth it. It’s so worth it. OT’s worth it because you’re putting your complete trust in God in knowing that He’s taking care of your needs. His plan is unraveling the way He has planned for it to. Even though you and I may not be happy

with our current circumstances or situation, we have to trust that God knows what He’s doing and that one day it’ll all make sense. We’ll look back and thank Him for all he’s done for us. Colossians 3:15 says,” And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

#3 Purpose:

The last subject I want to touch on is purpose. We’ve talked about the troubles of pain and how to be at peace when things aren’t how we envisioned them. I thought purpose would be a good way to bring those two together. Purpose is a sense of belonging and finding what you’re meant to do. There are many things in life that have purpose but I want to talk about your purpose, what you were sent here to do. Everyone has a purpose. God created you for a purpose. Now I don’t know what that purpose is exactly, but I do know that without that purpose, we would be lost. Because life is hard. Life is messy. But life is beautiful. This is the only one we get, there are no do overs. There is no reincarnation. We can’t go back in time and we can’t go forward. We’re stuck right here in this moment. In this purposeful moment. And honestly I think it’s a blessing. James 4:14 says “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.“ A lot of the time we feel out of place; like we don’t belong. I know I do. I often feel like I’m not meant to be where I am. My family and I always say I should’ve been born in the 50s. Back in the time of hoop skirts, diners, sock- hops, drive in movies, and when the biggest worry was what you’d wear to the church picnic. However, I’m here. And I’m thankful for modern day devices that keep us safer and healthy. But I still wonder what it’d be like to live back then. But I’m here, with all of you. When you were little, what did you want to be? A doctor? A lawyer? A mom or a dad? A business owner? Why were we in such a hurry to grow up? Now that we’re in middle school and high school we want to go to college or get a job. We’re always looking for the next thing to do; to climb the ladder of success. But sometimes we miss the most important times of our lives; right now. The moment we’re in right. Now, as much as I wish I could’ve lived in the 50s, I didn’t. Because I wasn’t made for the 50s; I was made for now. I was PURPOSELY made for this moment, to talk to all of you. You were purposefully meant to be here tonight. When God planted you as a seed to grow, he planted you for the moments you’re in and will be in.

Joshua 1:9 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This is part of your story. This is one of your chapters. This trial, this blessing that’s happening in your life right now is no mistake. God didn’t “accidentally” put you here. He put you in this exact moment for a purpose. It might be to make you stronger. To show you how much he loves you. To trust in him more. He didn’t make a mistake with your whereabouts, he never has and he never will. Because God knows what’s best for us.

When we think we know best we don’t. When you try out for football, baseball, cheer, soccer, swim and don’t make it, you’re pretty bummed. I’ve been there. There’s so many things in life that we want and don’t get. We ask ourselves why? We ask God why? “God why did you let me down? You know how much I wanted this, so why didn’t you give it to me?” We’re practically yelling at God, throwing a temper tantrum because we think our plans are more superior to his. He puts us through trials to help us grow our faith in him and to show us that no matter what he’s there with us. God planned out your life before you were born, before you were even a thought in your parents brain. He knows where you’ve been and where you’re going. He knows your worries, your struggles, your fears, he knows you and he cares deeply about you. Good loves you and an unfathomable amount. Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Enjoy today. Even when you’re faced with trials and pains, time is a gift. We won’t ever be in this exact moment again. God gave us moments to have memories. So when you’re sad because you didn’t make the team or didn’t get asked to the dance or didn’t get invited to the party you wanted to go to, it’s all for a reason. While your heart hurts over the earthly things you feel you’re missing out on, there’s a purpose. A heavenly purpose. It’s part of the plan for your life. I know it’s hard to enjoy the moment when we all want to move to the next day, but don’t waste away these days because of pain or because it isn’t how you wanted your life to go. There is a purpose for everything, for the pain, the tears, the joy, the laughter, the loss, the love. I heard the song Truth I’m Standing On going to school the other day and these words really caught my attention. “Someday soon I'll look back and see, All the pain had a purpose, Your plan was perfect all along, This is the truth I'm standing on.”

God has a purpose for you. Each and every one of you has a purpose. All the pain you’re experiencing will one day be part of your story. It will be in the past, not forgotten but purposeful. Carry peace with you. Peace may seem insignificant, but it is one of the most important qualities that you can ever gain. And purpose. Know that you have a purpose. Whether that purpose is to preach to a crowd of thousands or just to a few friends about the love of Jesus. I leave you today with Isaiah 54:10 which says, ”Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” God loves you. He always has and always will.

Heavenly Father, we come to you tonight asking for peace. We ask that you lead us to your purpose that you have for each of us, and to help us love others as you have loved us. Thank you for never giving up on us and showing us never ending love. We love you and it’s in your name I pray, Amen.