I haven't delved into Mom's journal for a while and thought it was time to go back into it. The next entry is trials which is a good follow up for my last entry on suffering. God's timing!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Overcome. Jesus tells us His grace is sufficient for us. During trials we are to open our ears to hear from God. Stand firm in our allegiance to Christ and continue to trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Remember previous victories. Remember to thank God for what He has done, for what He is doing, and for what He will do in the future. Seek Him, trust Him, wait for Him. Pray for guidance.
Psalm 40:1-8 I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
From me: This is a great Psalm to meditate on while suffering. Through it we can focus our hearts on God and His goodness. For example: We wait on the Lord's timing. He hears our prayers and is our deliverer. He sets us on sturdy, solid ground. There is purpose, even when we don't see. How we go through trials is an example to others, to draw them to God....on and on we can bring our hearts to Him as we suffer and know that He will and does take us through and bring about His good purposes. Now, back to Mom.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
We profit from trials. Pray for the ability to endure. Trials hurt but from God's point of view they help. God has "designed" them to accomplish His purpose. Know that our Lord wants to use it to test our faith and produce endurance and spiritual maturity. Do I want to be transformed into the image of Christ? YES!!
Then rejoice in the many benefits accompanying suffering. Being like Jesus is worth it. Let's not waste our suffering, but respond to it in a way that God will be able to produce eternal benefits in us and for us. (And for others).
From me. It's so hard to remember these truths while we hurt, especially the deep, gut wrenching emotional hurts, living through disaster, or the mind numbing, day after day pain. But even those worst of the worst things God takes and uses. He has purpose for. I've been through and come through some of those hurts. And you, know I still don't know why God did some of the things He did in my life. But I know that His heart is for me. I think when we do go through these things, we need to take out these Scriptures and read, reread, and read again and again and again. They will sustain us. Trying to remember them on our own can get clouded out by the pain. But physically looking at them will keep them front and center. And knowing God's heart is always kind, always loving and always wise is something that will help carry us through. I will do a second part next week on this....it's a deep subject and not something to be rushed through.
Lord, help us. Suffering is not something we like, not something we want in our lives. It's so hard to so purpose, to see light when all around us and in us is pain. But we know You. Help us to trust and focus on YOU. Lord, I do pray for those who are enduring untold hardship right now. Lord, wrap Your arms around them and hold them tightly to You breast. Strengthen them to face another day. Help them to remember that our suffering will never be in vain, it's temporary not eternal and that You will be with them throughout it. And You will redeem their suffering for something beautiful. Thank You that You do that. I don't know how, but I know You do. We trust You Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Print out or write out these Scriptures to have when times get hard.
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