Pain Killers

We are starting a new series this week called "Pain Killers."  The series came about when one of the small group leaders noticed the pain that students face each day, week, month, and year.  The interesting thing about this series is that we all experience pain in one form or another.  Whether it be emotional pain, physical pain, spiritual pain, or mental pain.  Pain can come as a result of ourselves, others, or life.  So as we kick this series off we are going to hear from a couple of different leaders about the pain they have gone through in life and how they have dealt with it.  For this series we took a trip down memory lane to the middle and high schools that I graduated from.  I looked back at the pain I had growing up and how I dealt with it.  I had to ask myself what did I use as a pain killer and why?  What should I have done differently?  Why do I constantly over look the ultimate pain killer Jesus?  And where do I go from here now that I know what to do about the pain I experience in life.

The scripture I want us to look at for this series is found in; 

Luke 4:18-19

"The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

This is why Jesus came not only to save us from our sins but to allow us to see again, to release us from all the pains and stuff in life that keep us down, to give us good news of what He wants to do in our lives.  It's funny so many times we run from the pain, ignore it, even excuse it, or deal with it in unhealthy manners when the reality is we have a Savior that is willing and able to be our ultimate "Pain Killer" if we would simply turn to Him and ask and have faith.  What pain are you dealing with or have dealt with that you continue to search for that ultimate pain killer?  Let's do this, instead of searching let's just trust, trust the ultimate pain killer to use the pain for His glory and for His purpose.  Jesus performed a lot of miracle while He walked the earth, He continues to perform them today.  Why do we continue to doubt His abilities?  Wait on Him, trust Him, expect that miracle in the midst of your own pain and you'll see the ultimate "Pain Killer" kill your pain in a way that only He can kill the pain.