CELERY
My daughter-in-law expressed her admiration for my courage one day. She watched me cope with and handle the devastating illness of one of our children. I remembered having given her this answer. “Mylene, if I do not face this problem head-on, I will miss what the Lord may be saying to me and teaching me here.”
Yes, the word suffering is what it means – suffering. But it made all the difference in the world when I connected my suffering to God! I passed on my burden to him. I accepted it as something he had allowed to happen for a reason I could not totally comprehend at the time.
Somehow, my suffering became manageable. It gradually began to show a different facet to me. It made sense. There were meaning and purpose in my loss – my pain and my heartache. God came into the picture and intervened.
The Path of Jesus
On one of those early mornings when I would wake up feeling empty and depressed, I found myself saying this prayer. “Lord Jesus, if I did not experience this terrible pain in my heart, I would never have gotten to know you. For this was your path, and I am now treading on it.”
I am now sure that every time I am in pain and God is with me, there will always be a door in sight. The door is his. As I enter it, he gives me access to his boundless and unlimited resources. I am in awe as he fills me up with his power and wisdom to manage my life.
Suffering has changed me for the better. It made me more forgiving of myself and others. In the process, I have learned to conquer my fears and insecurities. Most of all, It has made me understand and appreciate God’s love and mercy in a much, much deeper way.
We usually judge circumstances or events to be good or bad. I realized that the good might turn out to be bad and the bad good. Everything changes, and nothing is permanent. Romans 8:28 is one of my favorite passages in the bible. The meaning of the words have now become alive and full in its meaning for me:
We know that ALL things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
God’s Call
In God’s school of life, the virtue of longsuffering is one most of us would like to avoid or run away from. It has been my experience that the two best weapons I use to combat suffering are: 1) a steadfast faith and total trust in God and 2) an open heart and mind where, by his grace, I can recognize his voice at most if not at all times.
Most importantly, I know there is still a lot more to learn in this area. Jesus’ suffering. The life he gave up for me on the cross. For love. His resurrected life.
Suffering may not be bad, after all, when he calls.
Very well summarized Celery. I totally agree with you. It was also through suffering that God opened the window for me to understand the meaning of the cross and for me to gladly accept death to flesh that I may have the risen spirit of Christ in me. Gal 2:20 ’I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me’
Dear Celia,
Thank you for teaching us how you deal with your sufferings! You’ve become such a good role model and I so admire you for your strength and your attitude amidst all your trials. I could almost hear you say to the Lord: ” Bring them on, Lord, but remember, I’ll pass them on to you!”
If we follow the same mindset, we should come out of our sufferings alive and well, not depressed and forlorn.
May the Lord continue to bless you and double your faith in Him!
Hi Celia! You asked me to read your article on ‘Poverty’. And this is what I woderfully stumble on. Your posture of openness to sacrifice is truly ‘admirable grace’. I salute you for that!
Truly, wounded healers we are! I suffered a stroke at 49, and almost died. None of my 3 children then were finished schooling. But ‘beyond the sufffering’, came the years of the resurrection. And what a joyous Easter it was, and continues.to be. Today, my wife and I are happy grandparents to 7 wonderful blessings. Before that generation came to be, I was witness to how my children prayed for each their God’s gift. And truly, God’s gift they were, perfect to the ‘t’, for each of them. We cannot ask for more! Our hearts can only be grateful!
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