Comfort in Suffering

“who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV

I recently had a big prayer request. Not anything regarding health- just a request that could really give our family a boost.  I was excited. They were excited. I engaged some of the most powerful prayer warriors I know! We weren’t leaving anything to chance. We had an army praying about this request.  

I did my part. I was prepared. I was educated. I was in my new dress (those who know me know that was a MUST). People from New York to Orlando were praying.  

Then we waited. We continued to pray. Some times, I will admit, I wasn’t sure how to pray.  It would’ve been easy to say “PLEASE!!” But, I landed on “Lord, if it be your will -  let this be.” My husband would include it in each of his prayers. My little girl would include it in each of her prayers. On an even more precious note, I “snuck” a peak (she knew I was doing it) in her prayer journal from camp and it had this same prayer over and over again for her mom.  How precious.

Friends would call and text and alert me that they were still praying. Love that!!! Love being prayed for! 

You know what’s coming.....The request was denied. I can’t even describe my feelings when I found out. I seriously felt the earth move under my feet. I shook my head. How could this be? We had an army praying. We were consistent, persistent, and honest in our pleas. 

The Lord did answer - but with a resounding , “No”. 

To explain my devastation is difficult. I said all the right things, “It wasn’t His will.”, “He has a better plan.” Etc..... But, on the inside all I could think was , “WHY?!?” I was angry. I was hurt. I was alittle embarrassed to have to tell the army of prayer people that I had the answer. I was shaken about the future. You name it - I felt it. 

Sweet MP reassured me ,”Mom, something better is going to happen.” Sweet girl. And as I listened to her - knowing she was right - I still wasn’t there.  I wasn’t ready to let this go. I wasn’t ready to put on my happy pants. 

The next day, I began returning calls to the army. Then friend after friend cried with me and comforted me. What I realized was how quickly I may have said the same thing, “God has something better.” “Another door or window will open.” You’ve heard them.  How quickly I, knowing this to be true, would offer that as comfort. I now realize it may be even more powerful, as a Christian and a friend, just to hurt with them. Don’t rush them into that sunny space. It is true - and thank the Lord for that!! But, when you are hurting, it may feel even better to just take a moment and hurt with them. I know that I will be more thoughtful about my response. All come out of love and I am so grateful for any and all who pray with me. May my response allow them to hurt when they need to hurt and continue to remind them of the truth of His promise to use it all for His good. 

“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

Psalm 119:50  NIV

Lord,

I still believe Your promises. I praise You for my many blessings. I am so thankful that I can come to You honestly and bear my hurt in this and all my requests.  Continue to heal my heart and use this for Your glory.  May my response to others who hurt be changed with compassion and be slower to rush them to “move on”. 

Amen

Fruit in High School?

August was about preparing for High School.  Fun times shopping and scary times when she walked out of the dressing room at Altar’d State and I thought...Oh My!...you look old. No more “No bow no go!” In the mornings. (While I am alittle excited that she will be wearing a bow to cheer!!!) Her wings spread a little wider this summer as she went places without us and made decisions on her own.  But, this mom and dad also loved that you wanted to stay home tonight and the impromptu dance party at midnight. I love those moments.

High School is awesome. High School is scary. High School is stressful. High School is FUN! These years will continue to prepare your heart and mind for the time when Your wings will spread even further for college. 

You must remember that your faith is young, but even in High School, you must display the fruits of the spirit. There are people around you who may not know what it looks like to be a Christian. What if they see you and think that’s what it looks like? You will make mistakes - I do every single day. 

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

1) Love -  Love your friends and watch for those that need a kind word. Your shyness doesn’t excuse you from sharing the love of the Lord.

2) Joy - You should exhibit joy regardless of your circumstance. A good grade or a bad grade - a win or a failure - a circumstance or situation can’t steal your joy. 

3) Peace - Peace at High School can come in many forms. Being prepared for the test. Being well rested. Being organized. Being a good friend. 

4) Patience - Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others. Be patient with me and your dad. This is unchartered water for all of us and we will all make mistakes. 

5) Kindness - oh sweet kindness. It goes so far! It takes so little. You have a precious precious heart but don’t keep it hidden. Some of those moments where you have shown kindness are those when I truly see your love of Jesus. 

6) Gentleness - I will throw in another verse here because it is that important... “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Be slow to speak. Take a moment and make sure your words are true and loving. Gentle with your actions and your words will limit regrets. 

7) Self-Control - To me this one may be the scariest. As you grow older, the consequences of your decisions are even greater. You will have to fight the flesh and continue to commit yourself to the Lord. You are entering a time where “life long decisions” take place. Be thoughtful about the impact of your decisions...who you ride with, who you surround yourself with...it matters. I am just a text away and you can ALWAYS blame me if you need an out!!! 

Lord,

Please cover the students going to school and the teachers and staff who will guide them.  Please protect them and surround them with those that would encourage their walk with You.  We know Satan will be there lurking. Give them confidence in their walk. May they magnify the fruits of the spirit and bring others to know You. 

Amen

The Devil in Disguise

I am so blessed to live close to a beautiful river. Not only do I live close to a river, but our city has done a wonderful job making a walking trail with views of the river.  It winds around and you can walk, run or bike along the beautiful path.  There is just one problem...in the hot Alabama summer there can be snakes :( YIKES! Nothing like a long slithery friend blocking your path to get that heart rate pumping!

While walking recently we came across this guy.  He was laid out blocking the path. You look around and you see beauty everywhere - then there is this snake.  Then, he slithers off, into the brush. Where he can hide.  Into the brush. Where he can disguise himself.  Into the brush.  Only to come out later and block someone else's path.

I thought about the irony of this creature blocking our path.  This cursed creature. Blocking our path. How perfectly it ties back to our walk with Christ.

We are walking along - enjoying the beauty - enjoying the bounty of His blessings - feeling strong - feeling tough - most likely praising along the way.  Then we make a turn and there he is - across our path.  Our first reaction is fear - but he isn't hissing at us - he is just there - then he begins to slither off - he wants you to follow.  It can be quite alluring - he promises comfort - no rocks in your shoes where he is taking you.  He promises you will be hidden - look at all the camouflage around - no one will know.  He promises you - a better path. Look at how much brush there is to hide his actions.  Satan causes us to hide - just as in the original sin.

How powerful his promises can sound - especially when you are feeling weak or down - shoot - he knows where to attack us.  His lies are so tempting.  So, when he crawls out and blocks your path, what is our response?

1) Recognize him - Acts 26:18 "Open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to lift and from the power of Satan to God." As Christians we must be able to recognize that he is watching for ways to cause us to drift off the path. Whether it is in your marriage, your finances, your family - where is he lurking? Not sure if it is the Lord prompting you or Satan? The Lord does not tempt you to do things that will hurt you.  “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:13

2) Rebuke him - Mark 8:33 "Get behind me Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." When I'm alone I find myself actually rebuking him out loud. I have yelled at him to get out of my home. I've yelled at him to get out of my car! You will appreciate that folks might just think I'm crazy if I did that in public :)



3) Refuse him - 1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be sober minded. Be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith..." The devil's  way devours you.  It looks enticing. It looks comfortable. But, when you get there - you are in a dark place. It is hard to find your way. So our best chance is to refuse to follow his path. Step over him and keep on the beautiful path. When we refuse to follow him we are allowed to enjoy the beautiful gifts around us.

Lord,
I praise You for Your beautiful creation that we get to enjoy.  How blessed we are to be able to walk along the riverside and see so many aspects of your creation.  When the path is clear - it is easy to let your guard down and forget that the devil is lurking. He is ready to block the path and take us off of the path You intended.  Thank You for providing instructions on how to fight against the attack.  Keep our guard up and ready with Your word to stay true to You.
Amen