This year my teammate Brandon Marshall and I have been diving daily into God’s Word together before we go on the field. Each time we do, we learn another nugget of truth we can apply to our lives.

Most recently, as we’ve been reading The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren, we’ve been discovering that everybody has a specific purpose in their life. No one has the same purpose; you are unique to do exactly what God designed you to do. One thing that became really apparent to us—and really surprised us—was the truth that there always is a purpose in the pain that we go through. God might just allow a painful thing to happen in your life to bring your attention to Him, and then in turn, you can help someone else who might be going through that same thing.

Just look at Brandon’s story. In 2011 he went to a mental-health clinic and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. He’s now become the face of mental health awareness, shining a lot of light on the realities of these struggles, and helping those who are facing them.

I’ve known Brandon for a while now, and it’s been so great to watch him grow into the father and husband that he is today. He’s continued to transform from the inside out, giving us all a great example of how your actions reflect your heart.

I too have experienced the truth of God’s purpose being brought out in the midst of pain. During my junior year in college, I was doing really well and recruiters started paying attention to me. Suddenly I had a season-ending knee injury and needed surgery. I was pretty depressed about my situation going into my senior year, having fallen off the radar of the NFL scouts. But as I prayed about it and continued to work hard, I came off my knee injury to have the best season of my career, gaining 2,000 yards and making college football history.

God can take the worst situation or the ugliest sin and turn it into a blessing. He did it with Jesus. Jesus took the worst punishment—death by crucifixion—so that He could take away our sins and offer us eternal life with Him.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” —John 3:16-17

There’s a difference between finding happiness and finding joy. Happiness can be circumstantial, but we are able to find joy in whatever situation we may face. Whether in failure or success, we can have joy because it’s eternal and it’s a choice.

—Matt Forte

Matt Forte is a regular contributor of The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out Matt’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/matt-forte/  

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