Christian Living

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This statement got me to thinking: If I can accept suffering, can it really stretch my heart to make room for great love and joy? I believe it can. Do you believe that things just happen? Many times I have found myself in just that frame of mind thinking…it just happened. Yeah Right!…I really don’t believe it. God knows every moment of my life, so how can something just happen? He allows circumstances in my life to help me grow. I’m sure He has His fingers crossed watching and waiting to see if I will ask for His help. When I keep my eyes on His face, I can rise above my storm. I know God has a sense of humor, especially when I look back at my initial reaction and realize how silly it was. I’m sure many situations, and they are too many to name, Gave Him a good belly laugh. Then once I get my eyes back on Him, He can then teach me what He wants me to know. Lessons are not always fun to learn but as I learn them, I feel such joy and love from my Heavenly Father.

There have been two situations in my life that could have shattered many of you. It took a little suffering but I finally turned to God to ask for His help and He was there, quicker than a bolt of lightening. The one situation was my accident where I was left almost a complete invalid…talk about scary. This happened to me in the late 1990s. The second situation is more recent and I am still dealing with it. Believe me, this has been as scary as being almost useless. What was this one you may ask? I have Bells Palsy…you know, the paralysis of the face. I will tell you it has been a major wakeup call. I need to slow down and wait on Him for His direction.

The statement that started this article is talking about how accepting suffering can lead to joy and love. I do believe this is true because in both of my situations my life could have been devastated. Instead of being angry with everyone around me, including God, and saying, “Why does this happen to me again?” I, have been able turn and ask for His help. With the Bells Palsy, I have realized that I can still have my dreams of speaking and writing, but on His terms, not mine.

His Word says, “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” I believe that the autumn and spring rains are the love and joy that God can give me in any situation. I believe with my whole heart that He is bigger than any circumstance and that He will love me through that storm.

My prayer is for the future that I am finally learning the lesson of patience. My best suggestion to you is to remember God is there. Before you push yourself one more moment too many, or think that appointment is so important that you can’t miss it, or ignore your exhaustion; ask God what He wants for you. God is bigger than any circumstance you will ever face. Do you believe He can guide your every moment? I do! It is time you start believing that He is there watching over you.

PASSAGE: James 5:7 (NIV)

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