Suffering Well

This week I was asked to write down some of the things I have learned through Counseling & Discipleship the past 6 months… although I have learned and grown far more than what I’ve written… these are the things I have fresh on my mind this week.  I’ll continue to ponder, write and share more as God inspires me to!  I pray God will bless you with these words as He has me!

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, BUT NOT crushed; perplexed, BUT NOT in despair; persecuted, BUT NOT abandoned; struck down, BUT NOT destroyed. (emphasis added)

How has God shown His excellent Power through me?

1) His strength has been made perfect in my weakness.

2) He has shown me that I'm a work in progress, and that I can see Him most clearly defined when I'm in my deepest valleys.

3) He's taught me to rely on Him FIRST... Which for me has been a big lesson.  in the past when I was faced with difficulties or serious decisions to make, I would talk about it to everyone.  Now, I am "still" before Him FIRST, pray, wait, pray some more, then seek wise counsel in or or two for confirmation.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Farther of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

It is through the suffering that God has been growing me and will ond day be able to use me to comfort others who have suffered in similar ways.

Learning to Suffer Well.... now THAT has been an interesting journey.

I'll start by what I've learned I am NOT:

1) I am NOT self-sufficient

2) I am NOT self-sustaining

3) I am NOT Independent

4) I am NOT autonomous

As long as I believe myself to be these things, the farther I separate myself from God.  ONLY GOD IS ALL THOSE THINGS!

Luke 12:28-31

But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow it thrown into the over, how much more will he clothe you.  O you of little faith!  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

I've learned that God is the ultimate source of provision for all things.  God provides for everyone and everything.  I not longer let myself sit and worry about tomorrow... Tomorrow will take care of itself.  I don't "got it", But God DOES!  God has shown me that worry produces NOTHING & accomplishes NOTHING!

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I think most of all, I've learned that God is all around me, inside of me.  If I listen, there's a still small voice of truth, leading me, talking to me, and telling me that I can SEE God's face, FEEL His presence and TRUST in His love... (See, Feel, Trust)  Three little words... my new best friends!

Life is about faith, relationships, character and integrity.  God has a purpose and calling for me that goes far beyond the circumstances of life that surround me at times.  These truths are slowly becoming my new heartbeat, the foundation of my future life.  

I have learned that my value, purpose, true identity and self worth come from one and only one source: GOD!

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O man, what is good:

And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Pastor Brad said it so perfectly in his sermon yesterday:

"You stop trying to be so strong- and you learn to embrace weakness and uncertainty,   KNOWING that's when Jesus gets put on display most fully in your life!"

https://www.graceky.org/index.php?  option=com_preachit&tmpl=component&id=366&view=videopopup  

Yes, I have been Hard Pressed on every side, BUT NOT crushed

I've been Perplexed, BUT NOT in despair or without Hope

I've been Persecuted, BUT NOT forsaken or abandoned by my God

I've been Struck Down, BUT NOT destroyed!

God NEVER lets me walk alone... I just lost sight of Who He is and who I am IN HIM!

Sometimes the only way OUT... is THROUGH... and He's leading me every step of the way!

Something New

I've said for years that I wanted to start writing again... it's funny how time seems to allude us!  Life has a way of taking us for a ride. My ride has been filled with ups and downs, twists and turns and plunges that seemed to never end.  The greatest blessing in it all has been the FAITH that the light at the end of the tunnel is never completely out of reach.


The last 4 years have been filled with tragedy and loss, but in the midst of the darkness there have been sweet moments of victory and joy, grace and mercy and much growth.  I have come to believe that it is in our darkest valleys that we grow the most.  It's in those moments alone in the dark that God's light shines brightest.  It is those times that we see God clearly, where we learn to be Still and Listen.  


A new friend asked if I had a Blog where I shared my testimony and the story of our lives.  I guess I have not created a blog before now because I thought I didn't have much to share.  Now I can see, through God's Grace, that I was wrong.  
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says:
³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.


As Christians, we can expect to suffer as Christ did, but also.. as Christians we are never without Hope.  God is with us through it all.  As I have come through to the other side of suffering, I can see now that He used all the circumstances we have endured not only to strengthen us, but also to give Hope and Strength to others who are in the midst of their own storms.


The greatest lesson I've learned can be summed in a passage that has come to mean much to me:
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸ We areafflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.


Our circumstances do not define who we are, our Heart does!  I take joy in the trials we have come through because without them, I would not have come to know my Savior with such intimacy, now would I have come to truly trust and rely on Him for all things.  He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me!  I couldn't always see Him while I was standing in the middle of the storm, but I can look back now and see the Fingerprints of God all over our lives.  He never once let us walk alone!


So as this first post comes to an end.... I pray that there will be someone out there that finds hope in these words and will come along with me on this new journey.... as I share "The story of us" just 4u!


"Until the Whole World Hears......"
~Heather