Perspective

I am not the only one going through suffering.

My trial is a trial to me..one that threatens to undo me some days if I loose my focus on God, who loves me and who is more about His glory than my comfort.  But I am not the only one.  Plenty of people everywhere are going through things that are intensely painful to them at that time.  Tonight we shared prayer and praises at the church we call "home" right now.  Some are at the end of their trials and reflecting back..some loved ones were healed of cancer..some died and entered into the presence of their Savior.  Some are still in the midst and angry, others can say that God taught them through their pain about Himself.  It cannot be, for me, about just surviving this trial because others will come.  There has to be a decision to make much of Jesus in the midst of the suffering, not just thank Him when and if it all works out in the end.  Job said you give and you take away, blessed be the name of the Lord.  I cannot be about just looking back and thanking Him for the end result.  It has to be about realizing that I need to embrace suffering as part of taking up my cross and following Him today.  It isn't about putting on a happy face when you are hurting, but sincerely saying THANK YOU Lord for allowing this... for allowing my husband to be unemployed, for allowing us to lose our church family, for allowing us to be all alone and scared...because you receive glory when by your strength I proclaim your goodness day by day..not just for what you do..but simply for who you are.