Why believe in a God who allows His
Children to suffer?
Tribulation is troubling.
But whether or not we believe we will
Suffer.
It is certain.
And without Him we suffer alone.
It's a fair question.
Why believe in a God who allows His Children to suffer? Tribulation is troubling. But whether or not we believe we will Suffer. It is certain. And without Him we suffer alone.
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The doctor said that it's good to
Speak to a patient in a coma. Hearing is the last sense to go. I pulled a chair up beside Mark's bed and Read to him as I stroked his arm. I read Scripture and I read words that His dad had written long ago, Wise words that are never outdated. I don't know whether Mark was able to Comprehend, but I could, and I was comforted. It's an ongoing part of our lives.
We can't escape it. Waiting. The doctor said, "It could be days. It could be weeks. It could be longer." How do we prepare for such Uncertainty? I've learned through my past ordeals that Each morning we must pray, "Lord, not for a Month, not for a week, give me strength to Face just this one day." I was reading Jesus' words again,
Sensing the intensity of His Suffering in the garden. It was beyond what I can comprehend, but His example in crisis is a model for me. In my tribulations, small in comparison to His, but huge in my eyes, I can copy Him. It's okay to be so sorrowful that I feel Like I will die. I can beg my Father to remove my "cup" of Suffering, to choose an easier way to Accomplish His goal. But I must always, Every single time close my prayer like Jesus did, "Father...not my will but Yours be done." * Luke 22:42 We're still waiting for good news or bad news.
Somehow, no news seems like the Hardest of all. (Thanks so much for your prayers for Mark and his family.) After a sudden cardiac arrest my stepson is
Unconscious in the hospital in critical Condition. Along with his wife and family I am trying to Process the trauma. How do I pray? For healing? Yes, if it's God's plan. But I don't know what's best. For sure I can pray for courage and Strength and comfort and hope for His dear wife. I can pray that the doctors will provide the Very best treatment. I can pray that Mark will have no pain and be Totally at peace in his spirit sensing he is Not alone and that he is in a win-win situation. His dad said it so many times. "Either here or there I win." I told him that in the ICU hoping he could Hear me. I can pray that lives will be touched and that God will be glorified, that not one moment of Mark's suffering will be wasted. And I can pray with faith and trust knowing he is in God's hands, the best place possible. When a spouse is battle worn and
Broken in mind and body beyond Repair we feel compelled to pray, "Father, please take him home." When God answers our prayer we are Relieved, but at the same time we Cry, "How can I live without him?" I casually walked up to my friend and
Asked, "How are you?" But immediately I noticed her face was Flushed and she was holding back Tears. "You're not doing well. I can tell." She hesitated a moment and then said, "I have an unspoken prayer request." Unspoken. It's a common term we believers use to Describe a request that is too personal, Too painful to share. It's our nature to wonder what the problem Might be so we can pray more specifically. But I restrain myself. I refuse to be curious. I refuse to pry even a tiny bit. It's God's business to know my friend's Heartache, and it's simply my business to Pray. According to Tim Keller the
Three Christian virtues that Stand out the most to our Unbelieving world are: Chastity, Integrity and Generosity. But the attributes won't stand out Unless they are lived out. The three gentlemen sat in front of me at
Church. I studied them. I noticed their thinning white hair, Their weathered faces and their Hands, well worn like the Bibles they Held. Two were widowers and the one in The middle a caregiver for his Wife, each matured and mellowed by Life. Over the years the three had encouraged me And my family. I was beholden to them. I watched the seasoned ones sing and Listen intently to the pastor's message. They were unaware that in my spirit I was Honoring them, thanking God for their Fruitful faithfulness, for Finishing well. It would have been easy for the three to Stay home on a cold morning, but as was Their custom they were in church. The godly men had no idea how they had Blessed me by simply being there. |
Dorothy Kalb Hsu Seitzinger
Writing poetry has helped me process and express my sorrows and joys, my concerns and blessings. "Life is hard, but God is good!" Archives
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