Suffering and the Power of God

During our Sunday School class this last weekend, we viewed a video concerning how Christians deal with suffering.  The video included interviews with a couple of people; one who had been fired unjustly and suffered because of that experience, and one who experienced a debilitating illness.

The "why" of suffering was discussed of course.  We try to make sense of what happens to us, and try to figure out why God allows us to experience heartache or pain.  We would not be human if we did not try to understand the world and our personal place in it.  Jesus' disciples asked "why," too.   "Why was this man born blind?  Was it because of his parents' sin or his sin?"  Jesus answered that there was not such a cause and effect...the man was born blind so that the power of God could be seen through his experience (my paraphrase).

It is my belief that we are all born for the power of God to be seen through our life experience.  We are all called upon to share the struggle for life in this world.   I've thought a lot about suffering and the "why" of it, and have come to the conclusion that the "why" is because we are human.

The people of faith that I have known who have struggled with a difficult or even terminal illness have left a powerful impression on my life.  My father, dear friends, aunts and uncles - all have looked to God for the power to endure.  The gift they received was a deep peace and an abiding trust in the Lord.

Our son is certainly not deserving of this disease that he is dealing with right now.   Sometimes, I look back on the last year and feel overwhelmed wondering how we have gotten through.   We have been supported by the Lord and by wonderful friends and family who encourage us every day.  Some days involve more struggle than others, but every day is a victory.  Every encounter we have with Lacy is a blessing, be it joyful or painful.   God gives us the gift of seeing His presence even in the valley of the shadow.  That's the power of God in our life experience.

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 19, 2012 at 5:57 AM

    So very, very true, thank you for putting it into such clear thoughts.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suddenly...It's Spring

Spring comes without warning, it seems.  Suddenly everything is green, flowers are blooming, and the world is waking up.  New life is everywhere.  Robins are hopping around our backyard, some are building nests in nearby trees and shrubs.  There is an expectancy in the air. The cycle of grief is a recursive one.  Back and forth it seems to go for months on end.  Great sadness, numbness, depression, exhaustion; until one day a memory comes and it is not painful but poignant.  Rather than a tear falling, a smile comes and with it a hint of joy and a lightness of spirit. Ten months have passed since we lost our Lacy.  We made it through some big firsts; birthday, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.  The anniversary date of his home-going is not far away. In these ten months, Kenny and I have begun to find our way into new patterns and traditions. Sunday afternoons have become a time for visiting friends, enjoying walks, or just relaxing...
Read more

Countdown

Four weeks from today will be two years since we lost Lacy. I keep getting reminders on my Facebook feed of the last few weeks of Lacy's life.  The last year, I took a picture of him every week.  I wanted to make sure I could remember him, and the good - and bad - times we had together. I feel a sense of dread about May 28.  I am thankful that it falls on Memorial Day, so we will not have to go to work.  I am also thankful that we took every opportunity to spend time with him.  The last time was 5pm on May 27, 2016.  Nine hours later, he was gone. As I drove away from the nursing home that evening, a scripture popped into my head:  ...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection... (Philippians 3:10) That power has sustained us for nearly two years.
Read more

Day by Day

Alan is doing better since his hospitalization.  His outbursts are fewer, and are less "pitched" than before his med changes.  The staff assigned to him at his group home are doing well with him.  They have to pick their battles, as we all do, and are trying to keep him to a schedule. We took Alan to his neurology appointment this week.  Usually when someone asks Alan how he is doing, he just says "fine," but on this day he answered, "My knees are weak, and I have to lean over and hold on to things." After examination, Alan's doctor recommended physical therapy, as Alan is perilously close to falling.  While we don't know if Alan will be able to follow a therapists directions, or will even want to cooperate, we will arrange for a consultation. I can deal with the nuts and bolts of being an advocate and sometimes caregiver for my son, but I find it hard to maintain the focus I need when I hear his say that he is having trouble walking.  It is ...
Read more