When Life Hurts
Life can be very cruel sometimes. We're brought up to believe that life will be what we make it and that all will be fine if we get an education, marry, have children, and find a good job.
Unfortunately, that's not always true. Life can throw us a curve ball that knocks the wind out of us. Death of a loved one. Loss of a job we loved. Infidelity in relationships. Sudden unexpected disease hits. And the list goes on.
Jesus Christ told us that in the world we WILL have tribulation. And that applies regardles of how "good" or how faithful we've been. To those who were comfortable in their relationship with the Lord and with their neighbors, something tragic coming seemingly out of the blue can leave us stunned, unbelieving, and the enevitable "why me?"
When I found myself in a situation like this I was shaken to the core. As I sought understanding from the Lord, he brought me the following messages which led me to some understanding, and which helped me arrive to a state of mind that became able to endure the suffering. And now I share these with you. May they help you as you struggle with your "tribulation" and find the way to an understanding that will help you survive it.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
he Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble,
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
2nd Corinthinans 1:3-5
He was a pastor and a worship leader. Then an unexpeted turn of events took away his ability to speak. Hear his conversation with God.
If your life makes no sense, hear about others whose lives made no sense either. But when God was finished with them, their lives were transformed and speak to us across the eons of time saying, "hang in there, wait till you see what he's doing in your life!
Life is a jigsaw puzzle, that will never make sense until the picture is completed. But when it is ....oh what a beautiful picture it is!
Jesus went to the house of one of the religious leaders, but his attention was drawn to the love of a lowly sinner who had been broken. It's upon those ....that he looks.
It's important for us to remember that we have an enemy, and to understand his tactics so we can recognize him when he hits. The Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you." And it sure is
Being sifted as wheat is a necessary part of our walk with the Lord. He can't use us as we are - we have to be sifted. Only then will we produce the fruit he is looking for.
The things the believer suffers are not random, they are specific in God's plan to mature us and transform our shack into a palace fit for the King to abide in.
Walking with the Lord is truly an adventure. Sometimes we find ourselves called upon to believe for something that seems very unlikely. That's what faith is all about. The Lord is Lord of the unexpected. And ...he is faithful.