Beauty from Pain

This morning, I was reading my Bible with my Mom, and we were reading in John when Jesus died on the cross and said to his disciple and mother "This is now your son, and this is now your mother." We started talking about why God did that. And somehow, my mom mentioned something about going through hard times and trials and suffering. We started talking about he God uses other people's suffering and does something amazing out of it, much like Jesus dying on the cross-his suffering-bringing out salvation. And here is what I said:
"

I know how that is. You know how I blog, Mom? Well I try to be real and blog
about my life. I blogged once about how God saved me from sin, and used a quote
from the movie Tron. I talked about how this character said she felt like she
was dying, and then she felt a hand on her shoulder and there, above her, was
the creator. I talked about how even though this is a fiction charachter talking
about a fake creator, it can be so deep. I talked about how I felt like I was
dying in my sin, but God put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a reason to
live. Mom, someone commented on that blog and said 'I don't know who you are,
and it doesn't matter who I am, but I am going through some tough times.' Mom,
my blog is helping people. I look at the stats, and people on the other side of
the world read my blog. I blog about my pain, and it helps other people on the
other side of the world. But get this, Mom-you know what made me want to blog?
Reading a book about BJ Higgins, and how his parents started a blog when THEY
were going though hard times. Their pain inspired me, and my pain inspires
people on the other side of the world."

I find that so amazing-God can take such sad things-like the Higgins family losing their son, or a depressed and bitter girl who was addicted to cutting-and use them for good. He can do that with your hard times and struggles to-if you'll only let Him. I hope that thought encourages you in some small (or big) way.