A few comments/ponderings…

Our response to loss tells us who we are in Christ – or are not. It sure did for me.

Christ was fully aware of Horatio’s tragic loss (and Job’s) and fully understood his grief. He knew these kinds of losses could undo us and gave Himself up for us so that He could indwell us through the Holy Spirit to bring the rock-solid foundation we would need to stand through those losses…that we would be held when we could not stand…that we would know we are never alone…

When utter devastation came upon me, I ran to Jesus. I didn’t know that I’d done that, at first. It took quite a while…and when I finally realized what I’d done, my soul sang that I knew I was His. I “saw” the work of His hand and His great love in my soul. That gave me the strength to continue…to persevere…and brought me to a level of trust I had not ever known before. It healed my soul like nothing else. I know He is real. I know there is more than what I can see and feel. That is what Job’s testimony affirmed for me.

As I answered this, the “our” became “my” heart. It was revealing, and painful. Lots of tears, and a time to repent. I wrote in my journal: Loss reveals what we really think about God.
Do we really love and trust Him?
Is He really the most important in our life, our treasure above all else, or is our stuff or other people?
Reveals our maturity, or immaturity, spiritually.
How deep do our roots in Christ really go?
Just how firm a foundation in the Lord do we really have?
Is my faith really real?
Do I love God or just what He give me?
Loss will reveal the true condition of my relationship with God. If I have been nurturing it, getting to know Him, spending time with Him, relying on Him all along, then I will turn to Him as a trusted Friend.

If I have drifted from Him, not cared for our relationship, that lack of intimacy wilal be revealed as God will feel more like turning to a stranger for help. I may feel God is punitive, punishing me or another. I can see the wisdom in staying close to God and being in the Word at all times. The time to do it is not when tragedy strikes.

This was a convicting question for me as I reflect on how I reacted to my loss. I cried out to God, but my lack of a consistent prayer life and lack of pursuing intimacy with Jesus was revealed.

I remember that “in all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” Job 1:22

This suffering question has been a question I have lived with for most of my life regarding health issues from age twelve until now age 34. It comes and goes in my life in debilitating tides. I do not know when it will hit and do not know when it will leave. Praise the Lord I am in a period of remission of whatever and doing really well. I have learned that though God desires the best for us that health is something that I am not entitled too. Just like I am never entitled to anything. Only God’s grace gives us the gifts that He gives. If it is His will to use this ongoing struggle to encourage others and grow me(which it greatly has) then I am at His will in it. I know He allows it so I must trust. Yet not live in fear of when and what will hit next but just enjoy the moment that He has given me. Oh how I yearn for perfect health in Heaven. :)

Falling In Love with Jesus really changed my life and perspective on suffering. I used to think it was something I did wrong. But as I grow in Him I see that though at times it may be discipline that is always not the case. God desires for me to be more like Him and I prayed that He just do whatever it takes by getting rid of what is me so I shine only Him. If that is a way He will work it out then I am grateful, yet it is still very painful. So I have just determined to trust. It is easy to say it now when I am doing well. May I remember when the storm hits again.

Blessings to you all and lifting you all up in prayer. May He grow us together in understanding of His love and ways.
Angela

A few thoughts before we go on:

No suffering happens without God’s will. And some suffering, I believe, is actually caused by God. Sometimes it is as discipline to the individual or to the corporate body, as we see again and again in the prophets — and sometimes, and I know this is a hard one, but I have come to believe, he actually leads a godly individual like Job or Horatio or Hosea into the path of suffering to strength the body of Christ. Horatio said he was honored to participate in Christ’s suffering and to build up the body of Christ — which he did. I love the “syllabus” analogy one of you made — one day, all mysterious will be made bright. For now, when we don’t understand, we cling to what we do know: That Christ hath regarded our helpless estate and hath shed his own blood for our soul.

Blessing so teach of you. Thank you for really listening to each other, praying for each other, and seeking God.

When I thought about Hosea – being unequally yoked, the thought that came to my mind was, was he? I know in the New Testament it says, do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, but my question would be in Hosea’s day, weren’t the Jewish people all considered God’s people, and was Gomer not Jewish? I don’t know, that is just a question.

Hosea is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I love how God is seen there, wooing back unfaithful Israel. The book to me is full of the “emotion” of God.

I still cannot answer the question, whether or not God causes suffering, I do know, by the Word, that He does lead us into the wilderness. Jesus, too, was led into the wilderness. I do think one of the greatest things that God desires is our relationship with him, that is why “we are stripped of all these things” that our eyes once again may turn to him. Thank you for all your wonderful comments and thoughts! Blessings to you ladies!