Andrew (Hammo) Hamilton sat down with Leah and Dan to share some powerful insights into life after loss and the pain we can use for greater good.
Praying over Pain
“Some of you out there are probably going through pain,” he began. He acknowledged that through hardships, there can be residual hurt. Hammo wanted to emphasise: “Don’t waste your pain.”
He explained that he and his wife lost their son, Sam, 19 months ago in a drowning accident. It affected them deeply. When he heard of another Christian family losing a son the same way, he empathised that much more with the family.
“Now I can feel that type of pain,” he said. He prayed for them and mourned with them as someone who understood exactly what they were going through.
“Now I can feel that type of pain.”
Learn from the Pain
As Andrew went on to encourage all those in pain, he said, “Learn from it, let it form you and allow it to shape you in such a way that when you encounter other people who are having pain, you can come alongside and say, ‘I get it… I really get it.”
He referenced Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 1:4
When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
“We’ve gone through a pretty hard time, and we’ve found God there,” said Andrew. “We’ve known His comfort, His love and that he stood with us in that.”
He explained that God’s comfort allowed him to encourage with conviction: God is still there in the midst of trouble. He has not abandoned you and He will support you.
God is With You
Andrew spoke to those in pain and reminded them, “God is with you.” He also wanted to offer hope through the suffering, “God hasn’t given up on you.”
Allow the Pain to Shape You
“Don’t waste that pain,” reiterated Hammo, “Allow it to form you, shape you and change who you are.”
He acknowledged the heaviness of the subject, that it may encourage anyone who needed to hear it. He offered hope of compassion and support, to be alongside one another in seasons of loss and that God comforts us so that we may comfort others.
“Don’t waste your pain,” he echoed, “Don’t waste it.”
Check out the full chat with Andrew (Hammo) Hamilton here.