I apologize; this post is going to be a little short. Time is a little tight, but I am working hard at writing more often. :)
I wanted to share with you this two part series from Jill Briscoe. She is one of my favorite preachers/ teachers. I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me.
Matthew 6:14-15 (King James Version)
14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Wow! This hit me in the face like a cold spash of water. Have you ever looked up the references to waiting in the Bible? If there was ever any doubt in your mind that we serve a God of waiting, this should do the trick.
Psalm 31:24 (English Standard Version)
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the LORD!
Psalm 130:5 (English Standard Version)
I wait for the LORD,my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
Lamentations 3:26 (King James Version)
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Galatians 5:5 (English Standard Version)
For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
For my entire life I have loved rain. No matter what form it was in. It could be a slow, warm, romantic drizzle or a raging downpour that that comes with the power of a monsoon and makes it sound like the roof of the house would fall in. I love it all. There is something so cleansing and refreshing about it. (Remember what it was like as a child to play in the rain?) As a matter of fact, the harder the rain the more refreshing and tranquil the aftermath often feels. We have all walked outside after a good storm. There is a stillness and peace in the air. You take that deep breath down to your core and can’t help but feel invigorated. It just feels clean, right?
I believe this is an image of what God does with the storms of our life.
(I am just getting back to writing and can’t seam to get off this working through pain thing. To be honest I think I need it and God is pulling me to this as an outlet. For that reason, I have to believe there is at least one other soul out there it will minister to. Either way, thanks for your indulgence. It's not my intention to be doom and gloom. :) As a matter of fact it's quite the opposite. In Ecclesiasties 3:3 God tells us there is “a time to heal”. This is that time. Thanks for sharing it with me.)
All you have to do is read Genesis 6:9-8:22 and the story of the flood to see a great example of this. I am one those that believes many times we can explain soulish things by observing God in the natural. God, at the very least, allows us to experience deep loss, pain, and suffering. Some would even say he intends it, but I would not like to have that discussion now. The point being, no matter what the reason or situation He can turn bad to good. It's often the times we are in the most pain we finally let go of ourselves and submit to Him.
The glory is, no matter the storm, with God, in the end once you have become mailable in His hands, you are made new and cleaner than when you started. Through the “firey furnace” (Daniel 3:8-30) you are forged into something stronger. Remember, there is nothing done to you or taken from you He can’t heal or give back! This includes self inflicted damage. I could go on and on about the verses in the Bible which tell us to find joy in hard times and suffering. (I pointed a few out in my last post.) The problem is getting there. This analogy can be a perspective that helps. If you understand the storms of life can be cleansing you will find it easier to “count it all joy” (James 1:2). Do all you know how to do, then leave it to God. Stand in the storm.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (King James Version)
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Father God help us to be like children in Your care. Help us let go of the desire to do things on our own and with out Your help. Help us see Your hand in the storms of life and that You work all things to the good of those who love You. As we face trials we humbly request your peace and grace. We ask for Your loving mercy when we have fallen away from You because we acknowledge You are a God who will not be mocked. With Your strength and loving arms around us we stand in the rain. We love you!
Everywhere I look I see the pain and suffering of God’s people.From a friend diagnosed withmultiple sclerosis to a baby being delivered still born.From the tsunamis and power plant failures in Japan to the bloggers who struggle to write about them, it’s overwhelming.SO MUCH PAIN!It gets to the point where, even though you know you should just trust, you start to ask God why.If we are honest we must admit He has ultimately created all of it.He created free will, He created satan, and He created a world He knew would die and have to be brought back to Him.
We are told to find joy in these times…
James 1:2-3 (New American Standard Bible)
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
How can we even begin to accomplish this?I believe the answer lies with the focus of our attention and condition of our soul.The focus and trust must be on God, regardless of how bad things get.We must exercise our free will and make a conscious decision to trust in the promises of His Word. We stay in prayer. We make a decision that He loves us, we love Him, and that He, no matter how bad things get, will ultimately take us into His loving arms, surrounding us with true peace.In the end we realize that no matter the outcome or the paralytic pain and suffering we experience, He is the finish line. He wants good things for His children and loves us more than we can comprehend. Once we have these things to look forward to we can, with joy, be obedient to the call He has put on our lives.We can overcome the chains of sickness or pain.We can resist evil and bring others to Jesus so they may experience the love He offers.
Father God we thank You now for all that You are and all that You have done.We turn our eyes and focus to You.We ask for wisdom and your grace, both of which Your Word declares You provide abundantly.Work all trials we experience to the growth of our love for You and our patience.We ask this not for our comfort but for your glory.We ask this so we may be found usable in Your eyes as vessels to further your kingdom.That those around us may see Your light shining through us and find You.We lay ourselves at your feet and eagerly submit to Your will.We give You free reign.Move us and mold us as You please.We love You and trust You with all that we are.
