Suffering
Today's story is about suffering because it seems to be the theme of the day.
Of course, I have to tell you a story before I can tell you a story (or I just wouldn't be me).
I lose stuff sometimes. Last night, I was sitting on the patio with a nice fire in my little fire pit, just kind of reflecting on the day. I have a little radio on the patio and of course I was listening to the Bible Broadcasting Network (99.5 f.m. in Ogden) but thought I'd like to listen to some different music. I couldn't find my iPod (which was hiding in plain sight) so I grabbed the laptop (affectionately known as Herbie, the one I used to take TDY with me wasn't good enough to rate being called Bob by Wendi, so laptops are Herbies) and went in search of a cable for it. I took it into the spare bedroom and set it down and promptly forgot where I put it. I set some stuff on top of it, so it wasn't hiding in plain sight. After a thorough search, I just gave up and listened to the program on the radio.
It was about suffering and sometimes how losing can glorify God. I'd read this lesson just the other day in my "Experiencing God" workbook. This morning, just a few minutes ago, there was another program on the radio talking about the very same thing. The presenter referenced the book of Job, who suffered much.
I think sometimes, we have misconceptions about suffering. Compared to what others have suffered, mine has been minor. I have good health, a wonderful home, a comfortable lifestyle, but the hurts in my life affect me because they're things that most dearly touch who I am and what I believe in; more importantly, things that I've done wrong and can't fix, despite an earnest desire to fix them. The word for that, I think, is regret. They're not life threatening, but they affect my life profoundly.
First off, sin has consequences, so I'm not looking for sympathy. I caused the things in my life to happen, to some extent. I'm not responsible for the rest of it, but I did start the snowball rolling down the hill, to be sure. And in God's magnificent wisdom, he's taught me the error of my ways and used these trials to bring me closer to Him, which brings glory to Him. It's not about winning or a certain outcome to happen. He's used these things to teach me to walk in His ways and to trust Him.
For me, as I grow in my walk with Christ, as I strive to gain understanding and wisdom, to be able to not just say the words but LIVE the Word, I've come to redefine my idea of success. Not everything I do will be successful. There isn't a magic wand that makes me impervious to temptation, to not sin, to have everything go perfectly. If this were the case, then what would I need my faith and trust in God for? I expect trials to come into my life to fulfill God's plan for me.
I know they'll come and I know I'm able to face them because I can rely on Jesus to help me when I'm tempted. I know I can go to the Father in prayer and ask for wisdom and guidance, which I do on a regular basis. I also know I can rely on family, friends, and my church to help me through the rough spots. I have faith that whatever comes my way that God will use it to bring Glory to Himself and I hope by sharing that you will see that, too, and ask Him to be part of your life.
To those that are suffering, I offer you this hope. Christ. If you don't know Him as Lord and Savior, today would be a beautiful day to take your troubles to Him, to unburden yourself from past sin. Ask for His forgiveness and learn a better way to live. I may suffer, but I have peace and joy, and I've learned that in all circumstances, to give Him the glory and the credit.
Blessings to you today, readers.
Coop
Of course, I have to tell you a story before I can tell you a story (or I just wouldn't be me).
I lose stuff sometimes. Last night, I was sitting on the patio with a nice fire in my little fire pit, just kind of reflecting on the day. I have a little radio on the patio and of course I was listening to the Bible Broadcasting Network (99.5 f.m. in Ogden) but thought I'd like to listen to some different music. I couldn't find my iPod (which was hiding in plain sight) so I grabbed the laptop (affectionately known as Herbie, the one I used to take TDY with me wasn't good enough to rate being called Bob by Wendi, so laptops are Herbies) and went in search of a cable for it. I took it into the spare bedroom and set it down and promptly forgot where I put it. I set some stuff on top of it, so it wasn't hiding in plain sight. After a thorough search, I just gave up and listened to the program on the radio.
It was about suffering and sometimes how losing can glorify God. I'd read this lesson just the other day in my "Experiencing God" workbook. This morning, just a few minutes ago, there was another program on the radio talking about the very same thing. The presenter referenced the book of Job, who suffered much.
I think sometimes, we have misconceptions about suffering. Compared to what others have suffered, mine has been minor. I have good health, a wonderful home, a comfortable lifestyle, but the hurts in my life affect me because they're things that most dearly touch who I am and what I believe in; more importantly, things that I've done wrong and can't fix, despite an earnest desire to fix them. The word for that, I think, is regret. They're not life threatening, but they affect my life profoundly.
First off, sin has consequences, so I'm not looking for sympathy. I caused the things in my life to happen, to some extent. I'm not responsible for the rest of it, but I did start the snowball rolling down the hill, to be sure. And in God's magnificent wisdom, he's taught me the error of my ways and used these trials to bring me closer to Him, which brings glory to Him. It's not about winning or a certain outcome to happen. He's used these things to teach me to walk in His ways and to trust Him.
For me, as I grow in my walk with Christ, as I strive to gain understanding and wisdom, to be able to not just say the words but LIVE the Word, I've come to redefine my idea of success. Not everything I do will be successful. There isn't a magic wand that makes me impervious to temptation, to not sin, to have everything go perfectly. If this were the case, then what would I need my faith and trust in God for? I expect trials to come into my life to fulfill God's plan for me.
I know they'll come and I know I'm able to face them because I can rely on Jesus to help me when I'm tempted. I know I can go to the Father in prayer and ask for wisdom and guidance, which I do on a regular basis. I also know I can rely on family, friends, and my church to help me through the rough spots. I have faith that whatever comes my way that God will use it to bring Glory to Himself and I hope by sharing that you will see that, too, and ask Him to be part of your life.
To those that are suffering, I offer you this hope. Christ. If you don't know Him as Lord and Savior, today would be a beautiful day to take your troubles to Him, to unburden yourself from past sin. Ask for His forgiveness and learn a better way to live. I may suffer, but I have peace and joy, and I've learned that in all circumstances, to give Him the glory and the credit.
Blessings to you today, readers.
Coop
Is the Bible wrong in 1 Kings 7:23? "And he made the Sea of cast bronze, ten cubits
ReplyDeletefrom one brim to the other; it was completely round. Its height was five cubits, and
a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference." (NKJV) ... Should the circumference be about 31.4 cubits if the brim was 10? DIG MORE DEEPLY into this and everything which may seem a challenge...the Bible is trustworthy!
I deleted the first reply to this comment I made because, without meaning to do so, as I can sometimes do, I thought it came off a little snotty. Sorry for those that saw it. It wasn't intentional.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to a web page I found about pi:
http://ualr.edu/lasmoller/pi.html
This article talks about the very verse the person referenced and how close ancient measurement was to what we know as the value for pi.
Context is everything and in the context of the days in which the passage was written, the Bible was (is) correct which the article makes a pretty good case of pointing out.
Yes, friend, the Bible is trustworthy. So is Jesus. So is God.
So what's ya all's point? What does this have to do with anything in the post for the day?
ReplyDeleteI wondered that myself earlier in the day, but just took this point from the comment. The Bible is trustworthy, but then I never had one iota of a doubt about that.
ReplyDelete