Category: Christian Blog

6 Reasons Why Suffering In the Life of Believers

6 Reasons Why Suffering In the Life of Believers

Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries or questions that we as believers face is why is there still so much suffering?  Didn’t Christ say “come unto me and I will give you rest”?  (Matthew 11: 28)  Didn’t God promise that “3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds” Psalm 147?   Yet, Paul wrote concerning the Christian that   “8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4). So, what is Paul talking about? When I am cut do I not bleed?  Troubled on every side, but no distress?  If I am distressed does that mean I have failed in my faith?  Are all these trials a punishment for my sin? Or can there be other reasons?

save meArtwork used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba for information go to http://www.barba-art.com

[bctt tweet=”If anguish forces me to turn & look at the cross Could it be storms in my life are God’s Grace?”]

A STUDENT OF SUFFERING

My life has not been exempt to sorrow.  Indeed, trials have always been present in one sense or another as a part of this my journey, my pilgrimage.  I have not been a stranger to emotional and physical abuse, cancer, chronic illness, financial disaster, multiple surgeries, false accusations, tragedies, death of those I loved most, and periods of desperate loneliness.  Beyond the sufferings from outside, there have been those torments from within. I mean by that the sufferings deep within the heart. Those moments of feeling unworthy, guilt laden and that fear of failing.  I tell you all this very honestly to allow you to know that I have been a student of suffering and as such have learned that there are 6 reasons that God allows suffering in the life of the Believer. All six reasons that God allows suffering in the life of the believer are acts of Grace born out of God’s perfect Love. Through suffering He leads and guides us to a place of Glory, Peace, Hope, and Exceeding Joy.

The six reasons why God allows and even ordains suffering in the life of the Believer are as follows.

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HOW TO ACTUALLY REJOICE IN HOPE WHILE FACING TRIBULATIONS

HOW TO ACTUALLY REJOICE IN HOPE WHILE FACING TRIBULATIONS

Rejoice in hope while facing tribulations? How can that even be possible? Yet, that is precisely what Paul and Peter called us to. In the midst of our darkest moments, we are told to do just that. Yet, without at least a glimmer of hope; how does anyone get up and even put one foot in front of the other to face the day? Without a glimmer of hope, when facing dark, treacherous valleys; a person would be lost in despair and loneliness. Hope then is a good thing without which we just die to life itself.

There were many years in which I faced so many trials. Year after year in which illness, pain, loneliness, and valleys of trials were present. That was when I wrote Mountaintop Experiences in the Valley with all the raw emotions of those valleys. I am now rewriting the third edition to provide even more insight into how I survived those years and continue to face the trials that arise along this journey of life. One thing that remained although at times very dimly was a ray of hope.

HOPE HAS A NAME

[bctt tweet=”That ray of hope however dim it began was the light that kept me going forward toward JOY!!”]

Let us look at some scripture which will guide.

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Will God Anchor My Heart in the Midst of this Storm?

Will God Anchor My Heart in the Midst of this Storm?

If there is one thing for certain in this life, storms do come. They come in many forms tearing at our hearts, minds and souls. Sometimes it seems the storms will never end with each one following the other like an endless hurricane season with almost no relief between.

I have been recently reminded of the depth of fear and turmoil that we as Christians may feel at times during this journey. Will editing and rewriting the third edition of Mountaintop Experiences in the Valley; I was carried back in time to those moments of despair and loneliness. Were it not so long ago? Widowhood, cancer, recurrent illness—Valley after Valley of despair with glimpses of hope in their midst. The glimpses were like flickering candles that were nearly blown out by the storms. I took myself there for perhaps two reasons. I wanted to give all of you, copies of that book—one section at a time. Yet, since the initial writing or even the second writing; I have grown spiritually and for that reason needed to give you the insight I have learned along the way. The second reason to take myself back there is it provides strength for my own journey. For certain there are still storms raging around me; but, how I see those storms has changed over the years. Anyway, the book is available to anyone who subscribes to my website. You will receive updates of each post. Be assured your email will not be given to anyone else. You can email me as well with your ideas, your critiques, your needs and your own storms. I would love to hear from you.

Anchor in the storm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bctt tweet=”God will anchor our hearts in His Faith and His Love when storms are raging.”]

WHEN STORMS ARE RAGING

Fear, panic, and anger fill our hearts when storms are raging around us. We cry out from our fear and pain with questions. We shout to God, “Why me?” At times, our faith seems to fail us as it crumbles into despair instead. Sometimes we are filled with guilt; perhaps our own sin has led us there. Much like the apostles in the boat when the storms would rage.

 

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Can Praying the Lord’s Prayer be actually powerful?

Can Praying the Lord’s Prayer be actually powerful?

We find in the Bible two recordings of Jesus instructing his disciples to pray. Once in Matthew 6 and the second time in Luke 11. These do appear to be at different times because the one in Matthew is while Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount. The prayer in Luke is amongst a much smaller crowd and occurred when one of His disciples had seen Jesus praying and then asked if Jesus would teach them how to pray. The differences between the two prayers are minor.

Of note, in Matthew; a few verses before Christ had warned against repetitious prayers. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). Then Jesus proceeds and says, “After this manner therefore pray ye” (Matthew 6:9). The Lord’s Prayer that follows was to be a template, a guide. Still, can we use it as our prayer? There are those times when it can be actually very powerful, when we pray it from our heart.   Let’s exam it- section by section.

Our Father Which Art In Heaven (Matthew 6:9)

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What an amazing truth those words.  God is my Heavenly Father The fact that we can call God Father reflects that this is a relationship.  I have the wondrous gracious privilege to talk to my Heavenly Father; because of the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

 

 

© Liz Lemon Swindle/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”I can sit beside God, My Father with childlike wonder and tell Him all about my day.”] No pretenses. No need to hide my flaws. I can sit beside Him, babbling on in my child like speech; knowing that He listens. I also know that He will guide and teach as a loving Father who desires my best. And, note;the word “our”. In this relationship with God, I have many brothers and sisters, including Christ Jesus. I am not alone; rather,

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Doesn’t God know what I need? Then, why pray?

Doesn’t God know what I need? Then, why pray?

God is sovereign and omniscient. Scripture reminds me that He has known every detail of my life since before creation. He has known my failures, my victories, my sorrows, and my joys. Isn’t that what David wrote so eloquently in Psalm 139? That being true, why prayer? Does prayer change the course of my life in any way? Yet we are commanded “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6)

man praying in church

During this Christian journey, there have been moments when[bctt tweet=”my prayer has been a cry of sheer desperation from a broken heart & shattered life.”]I have known years of great sorrow, when the pleas seemed to go unanswered. This was particularly true during the long years in which I could not understand how the wonder of loving someone could be the source of my greatest suffering as well. How God’s plan for the salvation of my beloved husband would lead me through the darkest valleys of desperation was beyond my comprehension. Those years of agonizing prayer drew me in ever closer to God’s arms of love. Then God did what my finite brain thought unimaginable. Once my husband found Christ as His Savior, all would be well. Then God took him home and I was left a widow. My grief was almost more than I could bear; yet, I knew I must for my children’s sake. I prayed then for strength.

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