suffering

Post ID 1090

October 4, 2015trish1 Comment

Do you ever wonder why bad things happen to us? It’s the age old question. We all want to know the reasons. Our suffering is nothing compared the Christians being beheaded, raped or sold by ISIS. But still, our suffering is very real to us.

As I have come through the other side of my cancer God has brought other women into my life that are experiencing breast cancer. Within the last couple of weeks I have learned of three people just diagnosed. I dug out my journals from that time and have been able to talk because of our shared experience. I experienced God’s peace during that time and now I can comfort them. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Sir Winston Churchill said, “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every situation.” Scripture, 2 Corinthians 1:3-9, tells us some benefits of our difficulties: We will be comforted. We will be a help to others. We will be changed. We will learn to trust God. It tells us God is the God of all comfort, not just some comfort, who will comfort us in every single trouble we face. Look for the blessings during hard times. There are some there to be found!

Peter, an apostle, tells us that our trials test our faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–and our faith is far more precious to God than gold. So if our faith remains strong after being tried by trials, it will bring you much praise and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1Peter 1:8). An early 1900 British evangelist said:

Are you going to be the person that sees the difficulty in every situation or are you going to be the person that sees your situation as an a opportunity? Can you grow from your experiences so that you can share with others going through similar situations? We all need people around us that can walk along side us and encourage us along our journey. Nothing that happens to us is a waste but has a purpose. How are you going to respond to the needs of people around you?

On the journey,

Trish

What are you pondering?

December 21, 2013trishLeave a comment

After the shepherds visited Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, Luke 2:19 tells us that “Mary treasured up all these things. And pondered them in her heart.” When Jesus was twelve years old Mary and Joseph took him to Jerulsalem for the Festival of the Passover. When they were returning home, Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not with them. They went back and found Jesus at the temple teaching. After, “Mary treasured all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51) I wonder what her ponderings were as she was at the foot of the cross?

According to Webster to treasure is to collect and store up something of value for future use; to hold or keep as precious. To ponder is to weigh in the mind; to think about; reflect. Paul encourages us to ponder: whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. (Phil. 4:8)

Mary suffered much: loneliness, ridicule, grief, death of her son, sorrow. She remembered her conversations, events, scriptures and pondered them in her heart inspite of her suffering. Scripture doesn’t tell us for sure but I imagine Mary continued to believe that God was good in the midst of immense sorrow, loss, and pain. In those times our faith, the treasures of our heart, is tested by fire and becomes gold.

Sorrow is a reality of life. Let it be a tool to find deeper intamacy with God. Ponder Scripture, what is true, good, lovely, noble, pure, admirable, right and praiseworthy. There we will find God in a more intimate way. Then can we treasure the trial as one of God’s greatest gifts to us. We can treasure what God has and is doing in our life.

What are you pondering?

On the journey,

Trish