We all have trials in life. Sometimes they can be overwhelming. But truly it is all relative when we take our eyes off ourselves and look around. Even better Look to Jesus.
Stand firm … and be strong in your faith.
1 Peter 5:8-10 (NLT)
Remember that your family of believers all over the world
is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
In His kindness, God calls you to share in His eternal glory
by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while,
He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and
He will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:8-10 (NLT)
Alone in Our Trials
Our trials can cause us to feel so very alone. No matter the trial, many times our friends disappear after a week or so. It may seem that no one understands what you are going through.
For me, doctors were baffled. The testing all came back normal. We were tempted to feel that even the doctors did not believe me. Some doctors were compassionate, some were not.
We Are Not Alone in our Trials
One thing I learned while sitting in waiting rooms of the doctors’ offices, labs, clinics, especially Mayo Clinic, was that I am not alone. It was overwhelming to see how many people are suffering and they are suffering much more than I. Not to use their pain to ease mine, but it does put it all into perspective.
When I looked around, I saw that I had little to complain about and so much to thank God for. My suffering was inconsequential compared to what many have had to deal with.
Alone is Relative
If I expand the scope of sight to Christians around the world that are being tortured and killed for their faith, I really have nothing to say at all. And ultimately, when I look at what Jesus Christ did for me, I am ashamed that I would even want to put myself in the same category.
However, I am comforted to know that He knows my pain and He holds me up. He is my support, my strength through my trials. And that my “light and temporary suffering” will not last long. After a little while, He will lift me out of the miry clay and put me on a firm foundation.
Let’s Consider… how can we trust God to support and strengthen us when we go through various trials?
1) By leaning on His promises. Reading scripture has lifted me up so many times through my trials, but listen, there are times when you are not able, for whatever reason, to actually read the scriptures. This is why I have always encouraged scripture memory. If you have hidden His Word in your heart, he can bring it to mind when you are unable to read it for yourself. Meditating on memorized scriptures has been my main support when I am having procedures or injections that are painful. I was able to concentrate on the scripture instead of what the technician/surgeon was doing.
2) Resist the devil Quoting scripture is one of the best ways to give the old devil a beating when he tries to get his foot in the door. And believe me, he will try to bring you down. He will whisper all kinds of lies in your ear to convince you that you deserve this pain, or to become angry at those who have been the cause of your pain, or to get you feeling sorry for yourself. He has so many ways to deceive us.
3) Singing His Praise. We’ll get more into this down the road. But I just want to mention that praise is a key element in the survival of the fittest. If you can’t sing; that is, your trial is so deep that you are unable to make music, then just meditate on the words of a hymn. Godreminded me this old hymn which has become so meaningful to me … as if I had never heard the words before.
Click to Read the Words and Listen to this Old Hymn…
Until next time;
Mandy
It’s Your Turn Legacy Link-up
Pastor’s Wife (retired) & Chronic Pain Warrior blogs about how to make it through anything by relating her own life experiences to her writing. She is passionate about her love for the Lord and desires to spread that passion to others. She has a great desire to encourage women who are following behind her.
I have found Him to be such a comfort to me in my pain also. Thank you for the precious reminder that HE is our ONE true foundation. Blessings and love, Dear Mandy.
Indeed He is. This is actually a reminder to myself as my joint pain had increased really ever since I acquired covid in December. But having just received the vaccine, it has amped up again.
Singing is one of my favorite ways to turn to the Lord in trust as I face challenges. I love “How Firm a Foundation!” Linked up next to you at Anita Ojeda’s link up!
When I really saw and heard the words of this hymn, it fast became a favorite. Thanks for dropping by. And may God give you a new song in your heart today!
As many years as I have sung that hymn, it only recently hit me that each stanza is based on a Scriptural promise. It’s true that no matter what we’re going through, it could always be worse. I’m glad God puts limits on how suffering–He knows just how much to allow to accomplish His purposes.
Me too! I don’t know how I could have missed all those years. Thanks for stopping by.