hard times

“Pain and limits remind us that we are finite, that we depend on the mercies of God for existence, that we can survive hardship and discomfort and grow stronger and deeper through them. These Scriptures speak of humble acceptance of hardship, reminding us that we have a greater opportunity to move toward greater maturity. A few verses earlier in Romans 8, Paul tells that the suffering that we now experience is nothing compared to the glory to come. All creation anticipates that day it will be free from death and decay. “For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.” (Rom 8:22-23)
The wisdom of spiritual mothers and fathers such as Jeremiah Burroughs, a Puritan reformer and preacher of the 1600’s, emerged from walking in uncertain and difficult times. Our surest path to contentment, they said, is embracing the goodness of God, even while tempted by our troubles to doubt that God is good at all.

Sometimes I have a hard time believing in some coming glory because all I can see, taste, touch and hear is a dark, bitter and sharp existence. Yet I want to join a creation that groans for redemption. Instead of focusing on the bad God allows and interpreting God’s actions as disinterested, unfair or unloving, I can choose to trust that God is all-knowing and is motivated by love for what is good, right and holy. In trusting God we choose contentment.
The way through our fear is mellowness of heart, a receptivity to all of life. In it we find a gracious willingness to relinquish control to take that which God sends or allows - not because it is good but because we trust that God works through all things to bring about goodness in the end.”

From The Contented Soul by Lisa Graham McMinn

I have two close friends who are in the midst of a really hard place in the journey. This is for them and for all who may find themselves in the same place.

grace and peace-
Deb