God uses suffering…

 

As I watch my hubby struggling to move in any direction without severe pain, God is making me more aware of the need to be disciplined, not so much about moving my body but about not letting it dictate to me what I can and cannot do.

A few weeks ago, it was my turn. After few days in the hospital, God turned my focus by showing me how easily I can let the desire for personal comfort be an ambition. Had Jesus done that, there would be no salvation or the opportunity to be united to Him. He would never have gone to the cross if He put His comfort above obedience.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10)

It works the same in our perfecting. We suffer and in that suffering we learn to let God have His way with us. He could use it to comfort us for another reason…

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (2 Corinthians 1:3–6)

This is how I learn empathy. If I am never sick, then I cannot understand the struggles of sick people, never mind feel their pain or comfort them.

But there is another lesson. God wants me to be perfected by suffering, meaning that I will seek the filling of the Holy Spirit and be bearing His fruit, including joy — rather than whining and feeling sorry for myself. I’m sure this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote:

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

My hubby knows that God is using this pain in his life. Both of us see how the Lord has used pain in the life of our friend B.T. He is joyful all the time, no matter what is going on in his body. He is a delight to be around because God has perfected his spiritual walk with suffering.

Most people complain, run to the doctor or pills or booze, to get it fixed rather than seek the will of God. How badly we need that “Not my will but thine be done” attitude that Jesus had.

As for me, taking care of him involves loving patience and help with what he is unable to do because of the pain. He will heal and yet the larger thing is that through this, God has a great purpose.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, give my hubby what he needs to trust You in this trial. I thank You that he can laugh even in pain and seek Your face and Your will for him. Grant him the ability to surrender to You and wait on You for the blessings to come. And give me what I need to encourage and care for him.

God uses everything for His purposes . . .

At times I wonder why the Lord has brought many challenges into my life and with such variety. The list is long and includes owning and training horses, marriage to an alcoholic, raising children, moving more than thirty times, living in poverty, living with plenty, teaching kids, adults, quilters and a class of deaf women, making a living painting animal portraits, finding and losing friends and family members, worked for a difficult boss, been ill and nearly died more than once . . . and much more. Through all these life adventures the Lord has obviously had His plan, taught me lessons, brought me into a greater awareness of my need of Him. This morning He shows me one more reason for these varied and often difficult experiences.

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19–23)

Paul was an educated, high-born Jew who knew much about his culture and religion. However, God sent him to a non-educated, non-Jewish world, a culture that was beyond his realm of experience. The Lord did this so this amazing servant could become a servant to others by being able to relate to them. He knew the Jewish people and the Old Testament law, but eventually he could also relate to those who were not Jews and did not consider themselves under their law. He knew weakness. He knew many other things, not for the mere experience of them but so he could relate to those with whom he shared the Gospel.

I’m not a preacher like Paul nor have I been ‘sent’ to a people group like most missionaries that I know. But I am an introvert who tends to think mostly about me, myself and I. To shake me loose from all that, God pushes and pulls me through situations and issues that I’d never choose for myself. As they happen, when I meet others and talk with them, I understand them. I’ve learned to be a better listener with more empathy because I’ve been there, done that.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, I’m a detail person yet You used an online master’s program to help me see the big-picture more often, like this today. I’ve said it before but say it again — thank You for taking me through all that has happened in my life, but also thank You that when I talk to just about anyone we can click on at least one level. I’m not always able to share the Gospel with everyone but this list of experiences enables me to better able to share Your love and Your interest in their lives. How delightful is Your plan!