Beyond All Understanding

Tomorrow our little grandson, Caleb, would have been three years old had the Lord not called him home at the very young age of 5 months. Three days from now will be the second anniversary of the accident that left numerous scars on the body and heart of our grand-daughter Sarah, our daughter in law, Carmen, as well as leaving our grandson, Jason, paralyzed from the neck down. To say the least July is a difficult month for our family.

Great pain often drives us closer to the Lord. I know it did for me. I know that God is in control and that His glory will shine through all of this adversity. It is important to trust the plans that God has for our life rather than try to make sense of a crisis.

I have faith that God is going to heal Jason someday and that He will restore strength to his limbs and he will walk again. I hold onto to this hope everyday! Holding onto hope can be difficult when our circumstances show no signs of improving. I think it is more difficult for Christians because we know that God could answer our prayers and remedy the situation at anytime but He hasn't.

Our faith in Jesus and the hope of His return is how we get through each minute of each hour of each day. I just don’t know how I could live a day without God in my life. The peace of His Holy Spirit is beyond our understanding yet it is there; as real as the flesh on our bones loving us through the pain of our life.

SCRIPTURES

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Roman 8:28

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Roman 5:3-5

Praying through the pain

During our journey through pain and suffering, we reach a point where we no longer have the strength, the desire or even the words to pray, but we still have a desire to connect with God. We seek the answers to our prayers and our questions. We long for Him to touch our hearts and our lives and give us the comfort that we just can’t seem to find. We need to know that He is there and hasn’t left us alone to handle the unbelievably painful events we are struggling through.

Sometimes we find it difficult to talk to God because we really don’t know what else to say; we’ve said it all. We’ve prayed our hearts out and yet it seems that God hasn’t been listening. The Bible says He will NEVER leave us or forsake us, so why haven’t we received the answers to our prayers? Was God really there? Does He really care about the pain and suffering in our lives or are we on this journey all alone?

Prayer can become hard for every believer; you are not alone. It can be so discouraging when God is quiet and we feel like He isn’t listening. When prayer is the most difficult is when we need to be on our knees and praying the most. Pray until you feel like praying. We need that connection to God and we can only get it through prayer.

Everyone on earth has pain and suffering. No, not one of us is unique in that manner. It is how we chose to deal with the painful and sometimes tragic events in our life that makes the difference. We must give God the opportunity to do what He says He will do. He is in control and will provide for our every care. We must put our faith in His Word if we want to do more than just survive.

I pray that my spiritual journey will bring me to the place where I will be the most effective for the Kingdom. The pain that I have in my heart and the tragedies in my life will end but His love will never end. I choose to put my faith and trust in God and in His Word. This will sustain me for the rest of my days on earth and prepare me for the life everlasting with Him!

Before you pick up your bible to read say a prayer that goes something like this

Dear Heavenly Father,

I have so much pain and I need your grace and strength to get me through it. Please wrap your loving arms around me in a very real way so that I feel the comfort and peace of your amazing love. Bring your words alive to me as I read them and bless me with discernment and understanding. Allow the Holy Spirit to move in and around me so that my life is pleasing to you.

In Jesus name, Amen.

SCRIPTURES

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; Glory to Him from generation to generation in the church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen Ephesians 3:20-21

Doubt or Unbelief

As I have stated many times before, I believe that God is going to heal Jason. I have had moments of doubt; but I have NEVER stopped believing. There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is when we cannot understand what God is doing or why. Unbelief is when we don’t believe God is in control and He won’t come through on His promises. We all doubt God's ways in our life at times and we ask “why”. That is our human response but God is interested in what is going on in our heart not what is going through our mind. The Bible says, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Everything will all be made clear to us when we stand before the throne of God. God doesn't expect us to understand everything that happens to us during our life on earth; He only asks us to trust Him. There are times when we just can’t see God’s purpose for the events in our lives, especially when we are in so much pain. It is hard for us to understand why, but the bible says He knows what is best for us. He is dealing with us in love and He knows what He is doing and the end result.

We are not alone in our adversity, pain or even in our doubt; we all face these many times throughout our life time. But, He sees the big picture and He has our lives in the palm of His hand. His love is beyond our comprehension. Imagine the person you love the most in this world……Now imagine loving them more than you already do. It’s impossible, isn’t it? God loves us more than our human imagination can fathom.

God is love and He is full of mercy, even when we feel that we are alone in our pain. He is there, always there, fulfilling His will in our life. Do not believe the lies of the Devil; God has not forgotten you! Trust Him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

When the season of pain, conflict, illness, etc… has passed and we look back we will see that God was there the whole time; we were never alone…..Not for one minute. Read the Word and let God’s love embrace you and allow The Holy Spirit to fill you with peace and comfort in the good times and especially in the bad times. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

SCRIPTURES

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

He will be your safety. He is full of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. Respect for the Lord is the greatest treasure. Isaiah 33:6

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you. Psalm 9:9-10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Holy Before God

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Why do we think we are unique in our struggle with sin? The word of God says that we are common in our temptations. There is not one temptation that we face that hasn’t been faced by thousands, perhaps millions of people before. Giving in to sin and how we handle temptation is what reveals our true Character. It is what defines us Christians.

I think it is James McDonald that says “choose the sin; choose the consequences” and “when we choose to sin we choose to suffer”. Remember in Genesis when Eve took a bite of the apple and then offered it to Adam? They heard God in the garden and were afraid. When God asked Adam if he ate the fruit of the forbidden tree he blamed Eve and when God asked Eve if she ate the fruit of the forbidden tree she blamed the serpent. God punished them for their sins and they were banished from the Garden of Eden forever. They chose the sin and suffered the consequences of that sin for the rest of their lives and passed it on to every generation since.

No, we are not unique in our sin. We are all tempted by the serpent in one way or another. Sin is a part of our daily lives because of the original sin in the Garden of Eden. One thing is clear though, we must choose to accept responsibility for our actions and repent of our sins even if that means a lifetime suffering.

When we repent and seek forgiveness of our sins we become holy before God. Should we continue in our sin and choose not to repent, the consequences are eternal separation from the Father. This life is short but eternity is forever! Chose this day who you will serve – Sin / Satan or Repentance / Jesus. It is your choice and only you can make it for you. Come to the cross and meet your Savior. He died for the sins of the world including yours and mine.

SCRIPTURES

“The woman You gave to be with me. She gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate. Genesis 3:12

“It was the serpent. He deceived me, and I ate”. Genesis 3:13

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:32