5 Lessons from God About Painful Suffering

Painful Suffering comes to us all in this life at some time or another in this journey called life.  Whether it be a broken heart, illness, fear of an unknown future, loss of a loved one, or despair.  Life brings many challenges.  Some are a result of our own choices, while others seem to appear out of nowhere.  Yet, the painful suffering that fills our heart, mind and spirit do come as we face this journey called life on this earth.  However, there is a place of peace, hope and joy that can be found, even in the worst of circumstances.

Both Pete and Mom talked about the depth of painful suffering they endured in their bipolar world.  They would tell me of a pain in their head.  Not a headache.  But a pain that overwhelmed them.  Despite all the painful suffering I have faced in my own life, I must say it never could compare to theirs.  Certainly, I faced moments of doubt, shame, and even moments of sorrow, fear, loneliness, or depression.  Yet, I cannot say I ever endured the depth of painful suffering as did they.  Theirs, at times, spilled over engulfing my life as well. Still, in the midst of it all, God had a perfect plan of love, grace and mercy for each one of us.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those crushed by pain. (Psalm 34:18).  In the midst of our painful suffering, He revealed Himself to each one of us.  Therein we each found these truths.  The lessons of God learned through the pain and sorrow.

5 Lessons from God About and Through Painful Suffering

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Does Everything Work Together for God’s Glory and Our Joy?

For Our Joy and God’s Glory

Jonathan Edwards present the argument that  ultimately  the existence of evil in this world was necessary for both our joy and God’s Glory.   Before balking at this thought, I ask you to read thoroughly His argument.   I will let it stand upon its own merits. Of all the defenses, this one was the one that shone light into my heart during many years of suffering. It provided me with a deeper understanding of my suffering and ultimately lead me  to rejoice, even in my suffering.

A CASE for GOD’S GLORY AND OUR JOY

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Can Suffering Be For a Greater Good?

The second defense is that of “the Greater Good” defense.  As I presented at the beginning of this chapter and throughout the previous defense, evil serves a purpose; whether, we fully comprehend it or not.  Augustine addressed it in this manner,

For the Almighty God, who, as even the heathen acknowledge, has supreme power over all things, being Himself supremely good, would never permit the existence of anything evil among His works, if He were not so omnipotent and good that He can bring good even out of evil”[1]  (Augustine 1961)

Was All the Pain for My Greater Good?

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Song of Praise TO GOD-MY LOVE, MY HOPE, MY JOY

One night when sorrow filled my heart, I began to write.  This poem was among the first of many that later followed.  Still I turn to it when ever my heart is burdened to read it again as a reminder to me.  This is my song of Praise to God.

TO GOD-MY LOVE, MY HOPE, MY JOY

 by Effie Darlene Barba

 

My life-so filled with hopes and dreams

Lay shattered at Your feet

So many tears, so many pains

I laid before Your seat

 

Can I look upon Your face of love

And question what You’ve done?

For You have been my only hope

My only morning sun

 

You’ve seen my heart when crushed with pain

Your hands have held it tight

When I have been so weak, so frail

You’ve shown Your strength, Your might

 

You’ve held me close within Your arms

When darkness filled my night

And when I could not see my way

Your eyes, they gave me sight

 

I lay my life within Your hands

That You may heal my soul

And keep my eyes upon You Lord

That I may reach Your goal

 

Shine forth Your grace, Your mercy Lord

And let me be Your light

That all may see Your eyes of love

The blind, they might have sight

 

Let not the sorrows, nor the pains

Bring bitterness within

And give me strength to walk this path

Protect my heart from sin

 

I lay my heart, my soul, my dreams

Before Your throne of love

I lift my eyes to You, My God

And seek Your will above

 

You are the only one I need

To fill my heart with glee

It is Your face, my one true love

Tis all I need to see

 

So lift me up and hold me close

Reveal Your love divine

That through the holes within my heart

A world might see You shine

 

And if the sorrows of my past

Can touch a wayward one

I thank you Lord for each dark path

That lead them to Your son

 

I praise You now from mountains high

For each dark path I’ve trod

Twas there I found Your heart, Your love

Twas there I found You God

 

What great and wondrous joy I know

Because You are my king

And though the path I cannot see

My heart will trust and sing

 

A song of praise unto You Lord

Who knows what’s best for me

You’ll hold my hand and lead me on

In darkness, I can see

 

Your love, Your help, Your guiding hand

Is all I’ll ever need

So hold me close unto Your path

For this is all I plead

 

I’ll skip with joy along this path

Though darkness may surround

Because I know You hold my hand

My feet will ne’er touch ground

 

I cannot fall outside Your love

I cannot lose my way

I’ll hold my broken dreams once more

And see them real, one day

 

A song of praise unto You Lord

Who knows what’s best for me

You’ll hold my hand and lead me on

In darkness, I can see

 

Your love, Your help, Your guiding hand

Is all I’ll ever need

So hold me close unto Your path

For this is all I plead

 

 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

For more information regarding suffering see:

How Can Suffering Teach Obedience Resulting in True Joy?

Do You Want to Know the Secret to Abiding Steadfast Joy?

Abiding, Steadfast JoyABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

 

 

 


WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

You may click on the picture for more information on either of these books.

ANOTHER Book Available

You can find this and all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you want to know more about other books I have written: You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.

Or for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

1 of 3 Answers to the Problem of Evil: Free Will

At the beginning of this chapter, we discussed how suffering actually plays a vital role in our learning obedience, establishing our faith, and discovering true joy. In the previous section, I presented a case for how a Sovereign, Loving God could ordain agonizing circumstances in life.  I eluded to the “problem of Evil” which is an ongoing philosophical debate.  Although, I am not among the brilliant minds that debate this issue; however, “the problem of evil” is an ideology for which I came to terms with long ago.  Faith, with scholarly study lead me to embrace these 3 answers to the Problem of Evil. The First I will address here is the free will.

The basic idea of the Problem of Evil is to say that A Sovereign Loving God could not have allowed evil’s existence.  Therefore, either God is not Sovereign, or He is not Loving.  The Atheist loves to use this argument in an attempt to say God does not exist.  But the truth is: He is Sovereign, He is Loving, and evil does exist.

As I previously pointed out, evil does not stand upon its own.  In fact, could we even know, or could we quantify what is evil, were there not good.  For evil is the absence of good.  The shear fact that evil exists points to the truth that Righteousness, justice and truth must exist: which confirms God as creator.  For no random conglomeration of molecules could have formed a moral compass.  This is a topic for which I went into greater detail in How to Defend God Against Secular Ideologies.[1] Now lets look briefly at the  first of the three  Answers to the Problem of Evil.

Free Will

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