Suffering is Mercy

 

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it. We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world." ~Helen Keller

Before our walk today. Esther is brave and patient.

I read this on a friend's facebook page today. Suffering will come, it is guaranteed in this life. Only does Heaven promise to hold a life without suffering. There is a deep rooted education that comes with suffering. It's lessons can teach us to be bitter, fearful, entitled, and hard or to be brave, patient, thankful, hopeful, surrendered, and peaceful.

I would guess that each of us have things in our life that once past we would never change. The mercy shown for our good through a trial or injustice are some of our greatest lessons. As my friend Emily wrote this week as Thomas completed his treatment course, "Cancer is not a blessing, it is a result of the fallen state in which we live. But this experience leaves our hearts full of so much love and is evidence of the paradox of suffering – more love than the deepest pain."

I find myself humbled that God would allow us to endure such a trial. This mercy is a gift. I hope you know that now and before all of this we didn't "have it all together." We've had doubts, questions, struggles, selfishness, bad choices, and lots of sin. We didn't always trust God and seek Him in our day to day minutes. We've allowed our circumstances define our hope. God is teaching us through this.

He is teaching us that the hope we all desire, the peace, the justice we yearn to see, the love we are starved to feel will be previewed in this life. But the fulfillment of these desires of our heart will come in heaven. Any suffering in our lives is a mercy. Suffering gives us an opportunity to see God's power, wisdom, intentional planning, and comfort.

Still, my soul longs for heaven. Lord, haste the day...

Revelation 21:4-6

⁴ ‘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.”

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Esther has done well today. She is off her epidural and is doing so well she should be discharged tomorrow. Anthony, Grandma Sherry (Anthony's mom) and the kids came to visit today. Esther loved the company, and I think her sisters loved the snuggles. Later in the afternoon we took a walk around the hospital and she walked around the floor. It was encouraging to see her moving about so much!

One more logistical thing...the crew helping put our home back together on Saturday morning still needs help. They need people to help move furniture back into the house and to wipe down the walls/surfaces to clean away any dust, bacteria, etc. They will be starting at our house at 8am. Please email us at VictoriousIsHerName@gmail.com so I can let our friends, Travis and Candace, know who is coming.

 

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