Why You Need to Be Open About Your Pain - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - March 21, 2023

Why You Need to Be Open About Your Pain
By Rick Warren

"We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide." 2 Corinthians 6:11 (GNT)

Do you want to help people who are in pain? Then you need to be willing to share how your own pain got your attention.

Pain is a warning light that tells us something is wrong and needs our attention. You could probably think of many examples of when pain got your attention.

The apostle Paul experienced a lot of pain in his life and freely told the story of his pain to help others. When you're sharing about your own pain in order to help others, do these three things.

First, be open about your feelings. You can't mask your feelings and help others at the same time. Paul said to the Corinthian church, "We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide" (2 Corinthians 6:11 GNT). When you’re sick, do you tell others you’re not feeling well? When you’re down or discouraged, do you open up to people about it? Saying you’re “fine” is the easy answer, but it will never contribute to an honest relationship.

Second, be humble about your faults. Paul says in Galatians 6:5, "Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own. For none of us is perfect!" (TLB) Since you know you're not perfect, don’t try to pretend you are. People don’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be real.

Third, be honest about your fears. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:20, "I do admit that I have fears that when I come you'll disappoint me and I'll disappoint you" (The Message). Have you ever been open enough to share your fears with someone, even when it made you vulnerable? The greatest Christian who ever lived admitted he had fears. That kind of honesty is required in authentic relationships.

The hurting people around you need to hear about how you’ve struggled and how God brought you through—but they don’t need it tied up with a pretty bow.

We all have feelings, faults, and fears. It’s time we share them for the benefit of others.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

Find the Key to the Life You’re Looking For!

Some say the key to the good life is health, others say material wealth—but what does God say?

Find out in Pastor Rick’s dynamic Bible study, The Keys to a Blessed Life. This 6-session video plus workbook study reveals the secret to the abundant life God promises by exploring Jesus’ most well-known sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

Dive deep into the Beatitudes with Pastor Rick to discover the hopeful and purpose-filled life God has planned for you through messages like . . .

• How God Blesses Broken Hearts
• Your Ministry of Mercy
• How to Reconcile a Relationship
• Handling Opposition to Your Faith
• And more!

The Keys to a Blessed Life is our thanks for your gift below to take the Word of God to a world in need, so ask for your copy when you give today. Thank you!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.