Through the pain, when I don't understand His ways, and when giving up and giving in seems so much easier, will I turn to my God and seek His face? Or will I crumble with the world around me and blame Him for it all...
For quite some time now, I have had this feeling that God is preparing me for something BIG. And by BIG, I don't mean something new and exciting. By BIG, I mean something life-altering, heart-wrenching, and tragically-unexpected. (Not to be a complete "Debbie Downer" or anything...) But sometimes I feel like I am in the process of being built up so that I can be prepared to fall...and fall well. After all, it's bound to happen at some point. And when it does, I want to be found faithful. I want to be able to suffer well.
Below are two examples of families whose faith remains. They are ordinary families who are living extraordinary lives. Not only because of their incredible strength, but because they are seeking to GLORIFY GOD through their suffering. Imagine that. They have somehow been able to forgo wallowing in self pity and have instead turned their pain and trials into an opportunity to make Christ known. It's not about them--their problems, their hurt, their fears--even though there are days that I am sure it feels that way. Rather, it's all about God--clinging to His hesed, His promises, and desiring His ways above theirs. To me, they are the true heroes of the faith.
To hear the entire song that they wrote for their daughter, you can watch the video below. The lyrics are so amazing, so beautiful.
The other family are dear friends. Jordan, a good friend of Steven's from high school, his wife Katelyn, and their two beautiful young girls. Just last year, Jordan was diagnosed with a rare cancer in his pelvis and lungs. This is their blog. Their story. Their fight. Their faith in a miraculous God as they walk through this scary and uncertain time. It has been nothing short of amazing following them on their journey of highs and lows. They are real life examples of people living out 1 Peter 1:6-7.
"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."Just think. Because these families have remained strong and faithful through their pain and suffering, they will receive much praise, glory and honor from their Heavenly Father on that glorious day. Let me say it again. The Creator of heaven and earth. The Alpha and Omega. The holy and righteous God. The everlasting King. will. give. them. honor. and. praise.
That's the wonderful joy ahead. That's rejoicing in the midst suffering. That's the hope they have and so fervently cling to. All I can say is, praise God for families like these. For they show us how to suffer well. It is my prayer that I may be found, that we all may be found, as faithful as them.
Lauren, thanks for writing! I appreciate your thoughts... I also wonder sometimes if my faith will remain, and when Christ returns, will he still find faith on the earth. We must keep going and waiting..... abby
ReplyDeleteEver since I was a teenager I've always kind of felt that way . . . I used to think of it as "waiting for the other shoe to drop" (a really old saying), which probably isn't a very positive way of looking at things.
ReplyDeleteThankfully God is faithful -- and trustworthy -- I'm sure that'll be the only thing that gets me through when trials come. It was the one thing that I held on to when I was going through chemo. So I'm hoping I'll be able to keep that perspective if the other shoe ever does drop.
Love you Lauren--