suffering

Photo credit: IF: Pray at Jo's Downtown Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Recently, I've been wrestling with the Lord over some difficult things that have honestly broken my heart, crushed my spirit, and shaken my faith. I've chosen as Joshua did and Exodus 33:11 to linger in the Temple, in the presence of the Lord... for it's only in His presence that we find hope and healing as we endure suffering in this world. Despite how I feel or the condition of my circumstances, it's in the presence of God that I'm reminded that He is faithful. He is good. He is sovereign. And He is with me. A.W Tozer says, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." It's no phenomena that suffering is part of life. In truth, it's the very thing that reveals our deep need for Jesus. It's so like us to compare even our suffering with one another. Pain is pain. Hurt is hurt. Suffering is suffering. Our suffering is our ministry to a broken & hurting world. It's the very means by which Jesus came to this world and died on a cross. There is no greater picture of suffering than the Cross. The worst day in history became the best day for all who believe in the One true God. As children of God we live under the shadow of the Cross and it's only in its shadow that God gives our pain purpose, heals what is broken, redeems what is lost, and where we're given the grace to endure and the faith to forgive and be forgiven. 

1. He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
   He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
   To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
   To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
   
   
   When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
   When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
   When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
   Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
   
   
   Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
   Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
   Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
   The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
   
   
   His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
   His power no boundary known unto men;
   For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
   He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
   
   
   Annie Johnson Flint