Take Heart.
I don't know about you, but some days it is hard to "take heart." With all the suffering around us in the world... doubt sometimes comes easier than faith. From death to job loss, health scares to war, I think we all can agree that this world was not meant for us.
During this pandemic, I have seen suffering similar to mine and I am sure you have too. This season has been a reminder that we are not in control. As we look around, we are constantly given reasons to doubt the goodness of God, His sovereignty and faithfulness. When we suffer and when our circumstances do not make sense, it sometimes feels easier to just close our eyes to the world around us. We wish to stop looking at reality around us and to avoid the emotions that come with what we see.
I was in the hospital room the day that my sister, Lily, gave birth to her daughter who had passed. I remember a point where her pain was excruciating, physically and emotionally. She had not received pain medicine and was preparing to push. She knew that her daughter would not cry when she arrived and that the reward of her birthing and suffering would be delayed until Heaven.
Watching this suffering was too much to bear. I ran to the bathroom in the hospital room and cried out in desperation to God. I did not know what to do. I could not fix this. I did not want to watch it. It was excruciating to see someone you love suffer and have no idea how to comfort them. This pain was so much bigger than my shoulders could carry.
In that moment with my eyes shut with tears, God spoke in my heart and said "Come with Me." In that moment I remembered that God had watched His own son suffer. He understood exactly how I felt and He was with me in that moment not only to sympathize, but empathize with my suffering. But most of all, HE was with me! I was not in that room alone. By closing my eyes for those few moments to the chaos around me, I was able to open my eyes of faith and remember that God was in control. That He was with me and that I could trust Him, because He was no stranger to suffering.
I do not know what pain you have endured in this life, but I do know this: He has overcome the world. Your faith is not in vain. When what you see becomes too much to handle, close your eyes to the world and open them to the spiritual reality of Christ. Give Jesus your heart, your pain, your suffering, and your doubts and let Him remind you of who He is. He is in control. Our trouble in this life does not forfeit His faithfulness, but it does remind us that there is a day of redemption coming.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4
To support her cause, click here:
With Grace and Truth,
The Good News Girls Ministry Team
