There are pains that seem unfair. That unexpected goodbye. The resignation that dismantles your plans. The disappointment that hurts more than any cut. When this happens, it's natural to think: "What did I do wrong?" or "Am I being punished?"

But what if the pain isn't punishment?
And if that difficult moment is, in fact, a deliverance?
A necessary detour. An end that prevents something worse.
A turnaround that, even if it doesn't seem like it, is saving you from something you can't yet see.

Pain is not always punishment

From an early age, we learn to associate pain with guilt. When something bad happens, our minds race to find a reason: "Is God punishing me?" or "Do I deserve that?"

But this vision does not reflect God's love.
God is not a cruel judge who punishes for any mistake.
He is a father. E a Father who loves also corrects, yes - but always with purpose, never with malice.

Many of the pains we feel are not the result of something we didbut rather a path of invisible protection. Sometimes, what makes us suffer now is precisely what will protect us in the future.

That friendship that ended? Livramento.

That love that's gone? Livramento.
That door that closed? Perhaps the greatest blessing in disguise.

But at the time... you just feel the emptiness. The loss. The fright.
It's okay to feel. Pain is part of it.
Just don't let it blind you to what might be being avoided behind that "no".

The deliverance that feels like pain

Let's face it: freedom hardly ever comes wrapped up in a pretty bow.
Most of the time, it arrives like something that hurts.
It appears as a heartbreaking end, as a project that falls apart, as a "no" that shatters expectations.

But then... when the dust settles, we look back and realize:

  • "If I had stayed in that relationship, I would have lost my peace."
  • "If I had been approved for that job, I would never have known the opportunity that made me grow."
  • "If that friendship had continued, I would have become estranged from myself."

Not everything that hurts is punishment. Not everything that goes away is loss.
Sometimes it's heaven taking you off the wrong path.
It's God protecting you from something that only He has seen.

Trust what you don't yet understand

It's hard to trust when everything is falling apart.
But true faith is not just believing when everything makes sense.
It's looking at the mess and saying:
"I don't understand it now, but I know there's a purpose."

And there are deliverances that you will only understand years later.
Others may never understand - and that's fine.
Not every explanation fits into our human logic.
But everything that God allows fits into the greater plan that He has lovingly laid out.

"Now you do not understand what I do, but later you will." - John 13:7

Pain that prepares rather than destroys

Some pain comes to shape you.
They are not punishments, but tools for growth.
Like the fire that purifies gold.
Like the strong wind that strengthens the root.

The pain you feel now may be preparing you for something that requires a stronger, firmer and lighter version of you.

  • Keeps you away from places that would harm you
  • It brings you closer to people who will push you forward
  • It teaches you to respect yourself
  • Gives you strength where before there was weakness
  • It shows you that you're more resilient than you think

God doesn't take anything without a purpose.
He allows pain, but he also takes care of healing.
He closes doors, but doesn't abandon you in the waiting corridor.

How do I know if it's a deliverance?

Maybe you'll only realize it later, over time.
But some signs often appear:

  • Peace that comes after the end: when the pain passes, a subtle relief appears
  • Signs that are being confirmed: you begin to see situations that you previously ignored
  • Internal unlocking: that emotional or spiritual stagnation begins to give way to growth
  • New paths: other possibilities arise, unexpected but meaningful

And the main thing: you feel more in line with who you really are.
Livramento has this power: it gives you back to yourself.

What to do when it hurts?

  • Accept the feeling. You can pray and still cry. You can trust and still feel confused. God welcomes the human heart as it is.
  • Pray with truth. Say: "Lord, if this is deliverance, show me. Give me peace even in the midst of pain."
  • Avoid feeding guilt. Not everything is your fault. Not every loss is a punishment.
  • Stay away from those who feed fear. Stay close to people who remind you that there is something bigger guiding everything.
  • Wait for the weather to reveal itself. Not everything needs to be understood now. Just keep going.

What hurts isn't always punishment.
Sometimes it's God taking you out of the wrong place to put you in the right one.
He's saying it, carefully:
"It's not this way. I have something better for you."

If today is difficult, if your heart is tight, if everything seems to be falling apart... breathe.
You may not see it now, but in the future, you'll look back on that moment and understand:
"It was deliverance. And I was protected, even when I thought I was being broken."

Pain passes. Faith remains.
And what God has for you comes at the right time - after what was stopping you from growing is gone.

See also: Saint George's Prayer for Protection

April 22nd, 2025