when tragedy strikes
why suffering?
the suffering of fools
temptations, tests, and trials
why does God test man, part one
My husband and I have been going through a trial (as in Job, not as in court) in our personal life for some months now. As Americans, trials make us queasy. We are so used to a comfortable life, that when things get uncomfortable, as they do during a trial, we tend to panic.
We forget that trials are an expected and normal part of life.
Look at it this way: after you have taught something important to your children in homeschool, like their multiplication tables, you give them a test on it. Why? Because if your child aces his tables but stumbles with the sevens, then you know the sevens need more work. You teach sevens again, and test again, until he passes his multiplication tables test with flying colors.
Testing is not some antiquated hang on of Victorian education whose only purpose is to punish children or give parents something to put in a report; testing shows us and our children their strengths and weaknesses, and where to focus our teaching effort.
It is the same with the Lord as our Teacher. He is trying to teach us life lessons. A light bulb might go on in our head, and we think we have gotten it. Then the Lord allows us to be tested. How we respond under pressure shows Him (and us) if we have really learned our lesson or not. If so, congratulations! We advance to the next life lesson. If not, the Lord teaches us some more, maybe this time from a different angle. And then we are tested again.
It is not punishment, people. It is the education of life.
Search me, O God
And know my heart;
Try me,
And know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.Psalm 139:23-24
what my cat taught me about testing, and trusting
why does God test man, part two
we are the clay
judging suffering
when we suffer: a warning
help when we hurt
flip the switch
the poetry of drawing near
hearts wounded by suffering
what my thimble taught me
pride: the hidden problem with hardness
portrait of a yielded heart
the poetry of a yielded heart
comfort when we suffer
taking comfort: psalm 42
the poetry of taking comfort
comfort, comfort, o my people
comfort as a mother comforts
a rabbit trail
the joy of intimacy
the poetry of intimacy
God’s comforting presence
why don’t I feel God?
christians and suffering
back from the abyss
I always think of John 15:1-27 when I am in a trial. It is the verse about pruning.
Pruning brings forth a stronger plant and gets rid of the old, dead stuff.
Also I am reminded of the verses about being in the fire and being refined….
And coming forth as shing gold, able to reflect the image of God.
I have, tho, been know to say,
"But, I don't like the fire."
One thing my sister always says to me when I am feeling befuddled is;
'This is no surprise to God'
This gives me hope and peace,
Blessing,
Donna
My husband and I are also going through a difficult period. I appreciate the encouraging post and comment.
I am still seeing this funny code pop on the screen in between paragraphs!
But I can just wriggle around them to read your wise words…~smile~
AnnV
Holy Experience, I went in and tried to fix the code, is the post legible now? Thanks for letting me know. — Christine