Do
you ever wonder? by Jana Finch
Do you ever wonder if all of the trials, suffering, and pain you
are going through right now has a purpose?
Or ask, “What is the point?”.
Or, “How is God going to use this?”
I have wondered…..
I remember in Fall 2006 saying to God, “I can’t possibly handle
anything else. I can’t hold any more pain. I feel I have lived two lives, have
been witness to and experienced more suffering than any one person should. How
much does one person have to hold?”
The following flashed through my mind when I made that statement:
• Preacher’s
Kid
• Missionary’s
Kid
• Parent
with Mental Illness
• Lived
in and traveled to Third World Countries
• Military
Spouse
• Death
of a Sibling
• Trained
as a Health Care Provider
• A new
mom with two little ones under the age of 3
Within a month of making that statement, I was diagnosed with
Depression.
Did God put a stop to the trials? No.
Was I expecting Him to? Not
really.
I
accept that we will have trials in this life.
I
was simply tired.
Tired of struggling, tired of fighting, tired of hiding from my
own pain.
…..
Rest assured, God knows exactly what you are going through. He
has suffered like we have suffered. He has been tempted like we have been
tempted.
For we do not have a high priest who is
unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without
sin. Let us then with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made
perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him
(Hebrews 5:8-9)
In case you missed it, let me restate this for you.
Christ is able to sympathize with us.
Christ has been tempted in every way we have been tempted.
He learned obedience through the suffering he endured.
Draw close to Christ with
CONFIDENCE.
Draw near to Him and He will
give you Grace.
A Free Gift, no strings attached.
We will receive Mercy
and find Grace IN TIME OF NEED.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to
you. (James 4:8)
God understands the
process of refinement our current suffering is bringing us through.
He
gets us. He gets you. He gets me.
He knows us and wants to be known by us.
Suffering
is not the end. It is the means to an end.
Suffering refines us. It’s
a Good Thing. Do Not Run from it.
…..
I have pleaded with God for understanding, wishing to see into
the future in order to understand how what I am going through now fits in with
His eternal plan. Desperate for grace, for freedom from pain and suffering,
ready to be done laboring in this life.
I have been there.
…..
I can testify, as one of the Broken, that He will use you in your brokenness.
I look back at an old journal (I had just begun writing again after
five years of silence after my brother’s death).
In May 2007, I wrote these words:
“I am full of
joy in Christ. I am confident that He is preparing me for a specific task for
Him. All my trials I am going through, all of my thinking and analyzing and
growing in Christ is good, and I am so thankful because I know the Lord is
using all things for good and to His glory. The Lord is using me to bless
others, and I am so excited! Lord, you are working on me. I hear your voice
everyday and I am overflowing with Your Spirit. How is this possible? I
literally feel I will burst if I don’t tell people the love I have for You.”
…..
I have walked through the darkness, and come out on the other
side. And, now I can honestly say, it is worth it! I now understand James’
statement:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you
meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
My soul has changed. The scales have been peeled off of my eyes.
I now see Christ where before I saw the scars of this world.
Press on, dear friend. Do not give up. Cling to Him and he will carry
you through to the other side. Be patient and trust that He has you in the
palm of his hand.
Rest in His assurances.
…..
If I could, I would hold you right now and pray this truth over
you and into you. Asking God to fill you with the peace that surpasses all
understanding.
You can do this. You can trust that all is not lost. That in fact your
labor today is worthy of eternity.
My heart’s cry is to give you this word of encouragement today.
And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9)
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and
not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 41:31)
…..
It is a New Year. Maybe you have made a list of
resolutions. Maybe you have even checked off one or two.
I
challenge you today to add this Resolution to the top of your list.
Pursue Christ through the
darkness.
Do not be afraid.
Lean into Him with all your
might and Trust that you will not stumble.
He has you in the palm of
His hand.
Newly Purposed,
jana
About the Author: Jana Finch
Christ-follower.
Writer. Blogger. Mom of two boys. Air Force Wife. Rock Climber. Almost 40. I
found His still small voice in the simple and quiet farmland of Belgium. At jana’s three dresses I share my story in a raw and transparent way. My story is one of Life
after Death; of Redemption and Sanctification found on my journey through
Grief. (Psalm 30: 11,12). Connect with me on facebook and twitter.
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