As Christians, God uses our experience as well as our pain to develop our purpose in Him, strengthen the Church, and glorify His Kingdom. When we face tragedies like physical, sexual, mental, or verbal abuse, life-threating illnesses, death of a loved one, single parenthood, failed marriages, broken relationships, imprisonment, or other unfavorable circumstances, we assume we are in an isolated, unique situation. If left unchecked, our emotions can cause us to become bitter, judgmental, and spiritually lost. Instead of bringing people to Christ by overcoming our challenges and allowing our testimony to strengthen others, we begin to operate in destructive behavior which not only hinder our spiritual maturity but, those around us as well. Instead of using our experience to glorify God - who has already planned to bring us out - and strengthen and support each other in our common challenges, too often we take destructive actions: we accept abuse or become abusive, diminish our self-worth, become gossipers and complainers, vow to never love again, disconnect emotionally, dismiss our family, become a distraction in our church, post attention-seeking comments and images on social media, entertain thoughts of suicide or give up on our future, goals, purpose, and Jesus altogether. But the story of our struggles and challenges doesn't have to take such a destructive path. By holding ourselves accountable, using the power of the Holy Spirit available to us, and elevating ourselves to a higher level in Jesus Christ, we can operate in the calling God has given us, make disciples, strengthen the Church, and build His Kingdom - the purpose which is found in being "Sent by Jesus."