Journal Entry ~ 11/27/19

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:18

As we were created in His image, our very foundation demands justice, but the justice that our hearts so deeply desire isn't always ours to hold.  The reality is we don't have all the facts, we cannot see the whole picture, and we're not even aware of all the people being impacted by our sufferings. 

But He does. He is our judge and jury. As a child doesn't always understand the discipline of a parent, we cannot possibly understand all the reasons why He will specifically allow suffering into our lives.  But we do know some things about Him that help us to understand a seemingly pointless, but heartbreaking trial in our lives. 

God's first priority is the salvation of the lost. He desires that all should come to know Him. He allows suffering to enter our lives for the purpose of saving the lost - by bringing a lost soul to the mat with a difficult trial, or by allowing a saved person walk through suffering as a witness to the lost souls in their lives. 

His second priority is the sanctification of the saved. He desires that our hearts become as tenderized and beautiful as His heart for His people.  The reality is our bent is on ourselves first.  While we may desire to put others first, our tendency is to always demand our needs first. By allowing us to walk through suffering, we begin to see things from other people's perspectives. We understand the trials of others, and our hearts become softened - we increase in our desire to serve others who have suffered as we have served. 

I know He has used my trials for both of those reasons. I have been blown away by the opportunities I have been given to share the Gospel as i walk through a difficult trial, and I always surprised at the number of people who people step into my life who have who understand my struggle. The kindness and the compassion they have shown me during my trial have strengthened my heart.  

But He is also tenderizing me in my trials - He puts things into perspective and helps me to focus on what's truly important, allowing those things that were once important to me to fall away, and prioritizing the things of the Kingdom. He is refining me. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Medical Update ~ 09/27/17

Image
Today was a challenging day.  I met with the oncologist to discuss chemo as part of my treatment plan.  The oncologist explained there were 3 additional invasions discovered during surgery, so there were actually 4 isolated invasions in the breast tissue.  To review - my diagnosis is Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  All 4 of the invasions are HER2+ (aggressive) and hormone negative (recurrent).  My oncologist walked us through the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCM) guidelines for treatment of this type of aggressive, recurrent cancer - chemo and radiation. The good news is God had already moved the mountain in my heart opposing chemo, and rested me in a place of acceptance.  While my initial prayers focused on not having to have chemo as part of my treatment, after hearing I had multiple invasions, He moved me to a place of understanding that chemo is a necessary part of my treatment.  If there were 4 invasions in the sample they took, there co
Read more

My Journey Begins...

I am a believer in Christ, and I have breast cancer.     On August 17, 2017, I was diagnosed with an aggressive (HER2+), recurrent (hormone negative) type of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  At this point, they have not yet staged my cancer because they are waiting for the biopsy results from a suspicious spot in the second breast. The biopsy is scheduled for September 5th, with a lumpectomy to follow on September 7th.  They will formally stage my cancer after they biopsy my lymph nodes, which will be taken during the surgery.  It doesn't make any sense to me that I have a cancer diagnosis - I am a fairly healthy woman who runs 2 miles almost every day and eats a gluten-free, primarily paleo diet, with no family history at all.  But it makes sense to God, and so here I am. Update ~ They found 4 isolated invasions during the lumpectomy.  Due to the nature of my cancer (HER2+ and ER-), the recommended protocol is chemotherapy and radiation.  Beginning in October, my chemotherapy regime
Read more

Grace in Marriage

When we launched our new blog we had no idea if anyone would see it or be helped by it, but we knew that the LORD was prompting us to step out in faith and just do it. The response has been amazing and we are looking forward to how God will use this space for His glory. We have learned over many years of service in a variety of ministries, that God does not require human assistance to realize His plans for individuals, churches, nations, or the human race. But the story of the bible is the story of God’s will playing out through the words and actions of the His children. So…we pray, meditate on his Word, and write from the heart about the truths that mold our faith, guide our actions, and inspire our hearts and minds. Please visit the site and subscribe to continue receiving posts.  https://graceinmarriage.com/ It is our sincere hope that you are blessed by our work here and welcome your input on how we can make Grace in Marriage even better. Thank you for your support.
Read more