Why is suffering or painful trials that seems to come out of no where seem so much harder than others that ones "may be preparing for", or suffering that seem to be an injustice on the person's life? Though, all suffering is painful, why is this? Do we want an explanation within ourselves...Do we want to offer an explanation to friends, family...Do we want our friends, family to give us one too? NO! It does not make the grief process or pain felt any less to have one tell us why we are going through what we know deep down God has allowed to happened, but right now, we can't face, because it is too painful bear any words of explanation. Why do people offer their reasons??
Today I re-read a few quotes from God, Medicine, and Suffering from one of my favorite classes at Covenant Seminary. This quote stuck out to me from the book,
"Wandrope is comforted by a God who suffers with us , who shares our agonies--who has in short, become like us. There is no hope for us if our only hope in the face of suffering is that "we can learn from it." (Wandrope is the main character in the book who daughter is dying)
Though God does teach us lessons from our suffering, why do humans think we need to inform one another "those lessons", or point them out. I have been there myself, when I felt the urge to point people to scripture, or point them to what God is "doing through the pain they are feeling", but what I have failed to see is when one is feeling such agony, we do not want a lesson, we want a friend. There may be a time for guidance, but not during the pain and many loving Christians fail to get that until that go through the agony.
As Scott and I have gone through suffering over the past year, we now go through more now. I am reminded as we enter into a season of joy with the birth of a Savior who sole purpose was the die to suffer for others, to suffer and die on the cross to that I am know Him. What joy is this to know that we do not suffer alone. That even when we do not understand the why of it all, He offers himself to us as the God of love, the God of comfort, and His promises are true. We can rest in Him.
Even when others may not offer the support we need, He is there by our side guiding us taking us through each step of the way...providing for us, when our way is not clear, He knows and we have seen Him fullfill His promises throughout time and in our lives. He does not have to shows us, but He does, just when we think there is no more, some unexpected love or provision comes our way and I know that is not consedence, but God's loving hand in our lives, providing for us.
Does this mean when I do not see clearly provision he is not working, NO? it just means that like I asked and said earlier, not all suffering should or can be explained...so friends let us think about it together.
How do we walk together when we go through painful trials? Do we walk together, do you know someone who is hurting, how are we living as a community that is willing to walk alongside one another in their pain? Or are we so caught up in our busy lives, that we tell someone, "I prayed for you" and we think that is enough...Do not get me wrong, I think prayer is great, powerful, and SO NEEDED...but when did we think that is enough and when you did it there, I've done my "Christian deed" in their pain...what then is living in community walking with others in their painful and good times looks like? We like living with people in the good moments, but when the hardships come, unless we have "been there" it is so often times so foreign to us, many just do not know what to do, we withdraw...is that how walking together? What do you think?
Dec 18, 2008
Nov 11, 2008
Day of Surgery
Jessica's Laparoscopic Cholycystectomy went quite well today! Surgery started at 11:45 am today and she was home by 6:00 pm tonight! No problems presented themselves during the surgery. Finally she will be able to eat normal food again!
Nov 7, 2008
3 Days after the election
So I stayed up pretty late the night of the election to watch history unfold. I had so many thoughts running through my head. Two nights before the election, I was meeting with my K group and discussing with Dr. Stephen Estock, Associate Pastor at Kirk of the Hills PCA and a republican strategist on how to find joy in this election. The questions came up... How do we find joy and how do we respond? The Rev. Jesse Jackson was quoted the night of the election saying "this election has brought reconciliation for the blacks and redemption for the whites." How do we respond to this? How do we find joy? Has this election brought reconciliation and redemption or is it that Christ has and is reconciling and redeeming. The joy is in the sweet and wonderful relationship that we have with Christ.
Nov 6, 2008
Hey...Scott had the great idea to start a blog from others he saw that had one. Well for my first blog I thought I would put some pictures to help to tell my story...I just love pictures! These pictures are from when Scott and I went to Eckert's Farm to pick apples and pumpkins. The apples were so yummy! Scott told me it does not compare to Sky Top, the view that is. It was such beautiful day, maybe one day I can see Sky Top too! The only downfall, was simply that Scott and I both have bad allergies (ugh) to pretty much everything, and in the the pumpkin field there was some sort of weed or something that made us itch all the way home...so sad. What fun we had that day! I gotta go now...I have a test later today and I need to study! See y'all later!
My first blog!
Well I still trying to figure this thing out...all the customization of this blog site. We found some great pictures to go with it but all the decisions. Anyways we think this will be alot of fun!
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