"Suffering purifies what we really believe about God." - Janet Parshall
Pain and Suffering are great teachers. And life-lessons often get taught in the most painful situations.
As I was driving home from the dentist (Speaking of pain! Lol!) I turned on the radio and listened to a talk show about dealing with grief. The guest was the author of a book entitled Either Way, We'll Be All Right.
The book was a "diary" about the author and his wife as they processed her cancer diagnosis and ultimate death.
What I found most refreshing was the way that this couple's faith was interwoven with every thought and decision they made along the way about a seemingly unknown future.
The amazing thing about Christianity, and an active faith in the heart of the true believer, is that "the future" is already known and embraced.
'Death is a part of life' they say, but it is often a sad part. Remember Lazarus? Remember all of the mourners and Lazarus's two sisters? Even Jesus wept upon seeing their pain.
"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” He asked." - John 11:32-34
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” He asked." - John 11:32-34
Jesus knew that Lazarus would live again. And so it will be with ALL who believe. But Jesus was filled with compassion and mercy for those who were grieving.
The real key in dealing with pain and suffering is Jesus. He has already removed the 'pain and suffering' from our future by dying for our sins on the cross. He can also ease our present woes by taking their weight off our shoulders.
To ease our present burdens, we must pray. But that is only step one. The second thing required of us is to trust. Without our trusting in Jesus, what good are our prayers?
"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." - Matthew 14:25-32
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." - Matthew 14:25-32
Peter's doubt caused him to sink. Jesus said his sinking was due to Peter's lack of faith.
Are we totally and completely trusting in Jesus with our fear and pain and prayers? Or are we sinking?
Peter THOUGHT he believed but later he denied Jesus three times to protect his own life. Do we truly believe? Even when things don't go as we had hoped?
Either way, we must trust in God.
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." - 2 Corinthians 13:5
No comments:
Post a Comment