On Suffering

Last night, my heart hurt.  I'm not sure if it was the new mom behind me in line at Salvation Army who seemed annoyed at her 2 week old baby, or the thought of precious little Roman entering the other side of the world.  I left Salvation Army with an ache of sadness, and cried on the phone about  Roman's arrival with his mommy.

And yesterday started out feeling SO good!!

I don't like to suffer, but I know this waiting time is drawing me closer to God, and closer to Herb.


You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. (Matthew 5:3-4, the Message)


I DON'T find it ironic that this is what I randomly read this morning from the Bible.  Especially, when I cried out to God in my car last night, again giving Him control of my dreams.

So, here is what else I read today:

1. Suffering helps us realize our urgent need for redemption.
2. Suffering helps us experience our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.
3. Suffering helps us distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
4. Suffering helps us respond to the call of the gospel because we may have become so desperate that we cry out to God.


Please hear me on this - I know in the grand scheme of things, my baby ache is NOT that big of a deal.  I know there is far worse suffering in the world, but it would be an understatement if I told you that this was exactly what I needed to read.  My God is pretty cool like that.


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P.S. Don't forget you only have till tomorrow morning at 8am to enter my giveaway!

Comments

  1. Michelle -
    I know what you mean about God revealing Himself to us through the good book! Can I just tell you that reading your blog this morning is exactly what I needed. In that passage were the words I also needed to hear today.
    I hate that you and Herb have to go through this struggle but as it brings you closer to each other and to God, know that your faithfulness and honesty are drawing others to Him as well.
    I pray that your waiting will soon be over because I think you will be an amazing mommy! And even though I have never met your hubby, from everything I have heard, he sounds like a wonderful daddy to be. The both of you are an inspiration to me in my daily walk with Christ.
    Hope to see you and meet Herb sometime when I am in PA.
    Love ya

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  2. Michelle- you should get this devotional. It is amazing and really speaks to a lot of what you wrote today!

    It's called Streams in the Desert. Make sure you get the updated one.

    http://www.amazon.com/Streams-Desert-Devotional-Readings-STREAMS/dp/B001TIEOX6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276787031&sr=1-4

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  3. Michelle,
    Much as I love you I have never before visited your blog. Today, I was drawn to check it out and may I just say you are amazing. I love your honesty, your wisdom and balance and your insight. You are the total package girlfriend!
    I also followed the link on Roman to see your amazing canvases and now I'm not only impressed I'm intimidated! Wow you're good!
    I hope today your hurting heart will remain soothed by the balm of His love.
    Hugs, Rosemary

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  4. When I lived in NC, I had a dear friend and pastor who was diagnosed with Leukemia. As the months waned on and his body failed him, I remember one of the few Sundays that he was able to be in church. He stood in the front of the congregation, wearing a face mask, with his hair completely gone-- a shriveled and shrunken man-- and he quoted 1 Peter 4v1: "Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." I remember him saying that a tangible benefit of this wretched disease, that ended up claiming his life, was that he truly felt that he was "done with sin." Certainly not that he had "arrived" or was sinless or perfect in any way... just that the temporal and trivial follies that used to capture his devotion had just... lost their allure. And all he could see was Jesus. I pray that for you, too, Michelle... that through this time of waiting on your Father and on your baby, all you would see is Jesus... that all the dross and lilliputians and fears and anxieties would just fade away. And you would see Abba.

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