“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18
Death. Betrayal. Loss.
Invisible. Insignificant. Incomprehensible.
Hopeless. Pieces.
We are living in a weary world. As I write today, many who are suffering come to mind. Some
have experienced tragic death(s), others are fighting for health and relationships are dissolving.
I’ve struggled with a theological tension between God’s sovereignty and our faith. If there’s a
good God and we trust Him, then why is there suffering in the world? Clearly suffering is part of
the human experience. Through my own pain and asking difficult questions, I’ve come to the
peace of knowing we can trust our faith to God’s sovereignty.
Here’s some good news. Even though our faith has been shaken, a recent Pew Research
reflects most of us are not blaming God.
You can learn more about the Pew Research here.
So, what’s the purpose of our suffering?
This scripture from 1 Peter 5:10 explains how suffering is repurposed in our life for good.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Lysa Terkeurst recently shared a vulnerable post in the midst of her suffering.
“I’ve never been more grateful for the healing redemption God has done in my heart through
the power of forgiveness. Bitterness and resentment could be eating me alive. But,
miraculously, that’s not where I’m at. With time, prayer, and lots of counseling, my heart is
healing.”
So, my friends….
If your heart is broken and you can’t imagine how you’ll ever feel alive again, this is an
encouraging note to keep press in and let the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace as you
believe in Him. It’s my prayer that you would abound with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Needed to hear and reaffirm today. Thanks, Sister! Beautiful words ♥️
Love this reminder Denise. Thank you friend.
I will attest that God uses every bad/tribulation period for his good!!! You won’t always see it in the beginning, in fact rarely will you see it until the trial is over. He used my tribulation period to not only “answer my prayer”, he used it to show me areas I needed to change, brought me closer to him in many ways, and without me knowing he allowed that period to minister to family around me that was going through an even tougher time!! God is so good and amazing!