Why?

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:7 NIV)

I have a dear friend whose daughter is going through a lot of suffering right now. It seems like every time they turn around another life-trial greets them. It always leads to that age old question: why is there suffering in the world? Christians are not immune to it and seem to suffer life's calamities equally with non Christians. So why? Only God can answer in each case. I read these comments from a Billy Graham devotional:

“You do not need to study the Scriptures long to learn why sinners meet reverses and anguish. They are apart from God. Their sorrow is the result of their sins. But—why do Christians suffer? Scripture teaches that many Christians suffer so that they may fellowship with others who are in affliction. Only those who have known sorrow and suffering can have fellowship with those in affliction. The Word of God also teaches that Christians suffer in order that they might glorify God in their lives.The Bible further teaches that Christians suffer in order that God might teach them lessons in prayer. Also, Christians suffer in order that God might bring them to repentance."

I thought that was a great list of reasons. I also know that God never let's us suffer alone. He sends his angels and he himself will stay by our side during tough times. I know that to be true. All we have to do is turn to him. He will comfort us and he will bring us through better than before. Praise God for his love and comfort!

The Best Stress Ball!

1 Thessalonians 3

 ⁷ Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.


Have you ever seen those stress balls? I have several in my office. Every Athletic Director event I go to, they hand them out.  I know why. Most people don't. I'm not sure how well stress balls work. I have used them and can't really tell the difference. One of the best ways to handle distress and persecution is taking courage from those who have gone through it. I have seen so many people go through the stress of job loss, illness, loss of loved ones, and problems at work. Yet, they still stand firm in their faith. Most of the time these "faithful followers" see a deepening of their faith. I am so encouraged to know that I will survive as long as I lean on the Lord. 


Thank You Lord for my brothers and sisters in faith. Thank you for our trials and the strength you give us. Thank you that we can be an encouragement to others by those trials. Thank You for helping us through trials and distress. Praise God for your strength and power. Amen!

Why?

Romans 5

 ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

No one likes to go through trials and tribulations. I feel confident in that statement. I have gone through and will go through tribulations in my life. It is a whole lot easier to look back at those trials than it is to be in the midst of them. Trust me. But these verses are meant to give us a glimpse at the answer to the toughest question of all. WHY? This simple one word question might be the most popular question of all time. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have asked God, Why? and you know what? I always get an answer. I don't get an immediate answer. The answer almost never comes DURING the trial. I only see the answer after I've been through it and have had enough time pass. The answer isn't always what I want to hear. God knows me better than anyone. He knows my weaknesses and he knows what suffering I need in order to strengthen my character. I always get an answer. I have never gone through a trial where I have not grown in the hope of Christ. I will repeat that. I HAVE NEVER GONE THROUGH A TRIAL WHERE I HAVE NOT GROWN IN THE HOPE OF CHRIST!

Eventually, I will be able to have that same hope during the midst of the suffering. As I go through times of pain and then times when the pain ends, I gain experience. As I gain experience, I realize the trial will not last forever. I will make it through. As I gain enough experience dealing with multiple sufferings, I will gain patience. As I gain patience through those trials, I will become more aware my eternal hope which is  Jesus. When we get to the point where we can GLORY in the tribulation, we truly Glorify God and our savior Jesus Christ. When we get to the point where we can focus on Jesus even in the midst of the pain, we will be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and God himself.

I'm not there, but I am moving in that direction with God right by my side. Praise God!

Walk don't Run!

Psalm 23 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.


This passage of scripture has comforted more people over the years. It has been quoted (along with the rest of Psalm 23) at countless funerals. God has provided this scripture, through David, for the purpose of comfort.

If I were writing this scripture, I might have changed it to this: "Even while I am running through the darkest valley, I will be afraid of everything until I remember you are with me." I can't imagine WALKING through a valley of darkness. Just visualize walking through a cemetery all alone at night. Could you walk? Not me!

I wish my faith was stronger. I wish I could confidently "Walk" through trials in my life. But, I am more likely to run like a wild man from my trials. That's where the rod and the staff come into play. A shepherds rod and staff served two purposes. One was for defense, but the other purpose was for "discipline". Believe it or not, sheep don't always go where they are supposed to. (neither do we) Sometimes they need some more aggressive guidance. How true that is about me? Yes, even that is comforting. Once I have committed my life to the Lord and lean on him for direction, he will do it. Sometimes that rod and staff hurt. But, they are necessary. Our Shepherd will take whatever means necessary to keep us on the right path and he will do whatever he can to protect us from evil. He does it so we can walk through life with confidence, even through the toughest of trials and tribulations.

God is with us. He loves us. He is our comfort. He carries a powerful rod and staff, but he loves us like no one else can. Amen to that! 

I get down!

Hebrews 12 (The Message)

 ^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

My faith is not perfect. I wish it was. Sometimes I am up and sometimes I get down. Usually I get down about earthly things and it drags my faith down with it. It's always money, relationships, or just plain when I don't get my way. It's these times when I lose sight of what it's all about and it's at those times that I need my faith the most. This happened last night. I am a super competitive person and when we lose a big game, I don't handle it very well. I want to win. I hate losing and I hate it when our teams don't play up to their potential and lose a game we should win. It's at that time I lose sight of what we are all about. Athletics are a great format for teaching kids. It teaches them to work hard, to set goals. to handle victory, to handle defeat, and to handle controversy. It teaches all of these life skills in a microcosm of sports. However, I ONLY enjoy learning to deal with victory. If I have to deal with this other stuff I get down. In reality, these set backs, defeats, or unattained goals are minor in the scheme of life. Better yet, they are major in the scheme of life because they always help us to prepare for our future. I will guarantee that we will all faces setbacks, losses, and controversy at some point in our future.

One of the best ways to get out of the dumps is to review Christ's story or the story of Paul, or the story of Steven.  Any number of "veterans" of the faith. You see, there is nothing that we are facing right now that can't be matched by these pioneers of the faith. There is nothing that we can go through that can even closely compare to death on a cross.  We need to keep sight on the finish. We need to stay grounded in the faith by continuously studying the word of God.  Remember you are running a race in the faith. Sometimes we get so down that we stop running altogether. The weight of this world drags us down so much that we can not take one more step. It's at that point we need to strip those worldly weights and start running again. We need to keep the eye on the finish line and we need to look forward to an exhilarating finish. A finish with God in Heaven for eternity.  In life we will face loss from cancer, death of family members or close friends, loss of a job, financial setbacks and more. We can not let these life's trials to get us down. We know someone who had defeated even death on a cross. We are victorious through him. Thank You Lord!

Heavenly Father, Help us to keep focused on the finish line. Help us to look to you for help in sustaining life through the many trials we face. We love you and ask your forgiveness through our lack of faith. Lord you are wonderful! Thank You! Amen!