cheech
Apr 1st 2007, 11:20 PM
How many times have we said this too ourselves when things were going badly...
"How Long, O Lord? How long must I go through these difficulties, this illness, this addiction?" "How long must I continue to be hurt? How long must I suffer?"
So many times we've uttered these words through our struggle with addictions or any problems we go through. It gets to the point we have no where else to turn and begin to wonder "What did I do to deserve this?" Sometimes we do cause our own problems when we resort to our addictive behaviors, but sometimes we don't...as when we fall ill. Sometimes problems go on for so long and seem so hopeless that we can hardly bear to ask God for more help.
I was reading a devotional this morning and in it came understanding regarding the "whys". It stated that we may never be able to answer the question "Why does God allow such bad things to happen to us", but we can begin to realize that we can learn and grow through them. It went on to talk about how a seed sprouts in the darkness of the earth and when you look at spiritual growth, it begins in the darkness of sickness, pain, loss and disappointment. In this life, suffering with never be eliminated, but Romans 8:28 states:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
St. Augustine wrote: "Faith sometimes falters because He does not reward us immediately, but hold out, be steadfast, bear the delay and you have carried the cross." God is never a God of hopelessness. Even if God does not change the situation, He can change us.
No, we may not ever be completely healed of our addictions, meaning, we may always struggle here and there with them, we may not always be well physically, but with a renewing of the mind through Jesus Christ, we can learn how to deal with our day to day afflictions. We can find that inner peace that will make our struggles more bearable. We can only find this through our faith in Christ. God has a way of keeping us humble so we may see things through His eyes. If I had not been brought to my breaking point with unforgiveness issues, I would not have been able to look past the outer shell of a person to realize what I see on the outside isn't what's always on the inside. I renewed my mind the way Paul told us too in Romans 12:2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We often remember Job and David in Psalms when we have difficulties. But we must also remember Peter when he saw Jesus walking on the water towards them in Matthew 14:22-33. When all was calm, Peter said "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus simply said "Come". With his eyes fixed only on Christ, Peter got out of the boat and walked confidently in faith towards Christ. But then the wind picked up and the waves came crashing around him, he became afraid, most likely removing his eyes from Christ and he began to sink, crying out "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Then the wind died down.
How many times have we done this...had our eyes fixed on Christ when our struggles were low but as soon as the waves came crashing around us, we removed our eyes from Christ in fear and doubt and began to sink thinking "why is this happening to me? Lord, save me!". It is through the storms of life where we gather our strength from Christ because through each storm we face, our eyes remaining soley on Christ, we become stronger when we proceed through it to the end. Sometimes this takes only a short time, sometimes a while and sometimes through most of our lives with small breaks in between. But with faith in Christ, we never pass through the storms and struggles alone.
Isaiah 43:1-2 states:
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
This week, lets make it a point to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, even when the waves come crashing around us...never removing our gaze and never doubting Christ's ability to see us through to the end.
Have a blessed week :hug:
"How Long, O Lord? How long must I go through these difficulties, this illness, this addiction?" "How long must I continue to be hurt? How long must I suffer?"
So many times we've uttered these words through our struggle with addictions or any problems we go through. It gets to the point we have no where else to turn and begin to wonder "What did I do to deserve this?" Sometimes we do cause our own problems when we resort to our addictive behaviors, but sometimes we don't...as when we fall ill. Sometimes problems go on for so long and seem so hopeless that we can hardly bear to ask God for more help.
I was reading a devotional this morning and in it came understanding regarding the "whys". It stated that we may never be able to answer the question "Why does God allow such bad things to happen to us", but we can begin to realize that we can learn and grow through them. It went on to talk about how a seed sprouts in the darkness of the earth and when you look at spiritual growth, it begins in the darkness of sickness, pain, loss and disappointment. In this life, suffering with never be eliminated, but Romans 8:28 states:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
St. Augustine wrote: "Faith sometimes falters because He does not reward us immediately, but hold out, be steadfast, bear the delay and you have carried the cross." God is never a God of hopelessness. Even if God does not change the situation, He can change us.
No, we may not ever be completely healed of our addictions, meaning, we may always struggle here and there with them, we may not always be well physically, but with a renewing of the mind through Jesus Christ, we can learn how to deal with our day to day afflictions. We can find that inner peace that will make our struggles more bearable. We can only find this through our faith in Christ. God has a way of keeping us humble so we may see things through His eyes. If I had not been brought to my breaking point with unforgiveness issues, I would not have been able to look past the outer shell of a person to realize what I see on the outside isn't what's always on the inside. I renewed my mind the way Paul told us too in Romans 12:2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We often remember Job and David in Psalms when we have difficulties. But we must also remember Peter when he saw Jesus walking on the water towards them in Matthew 14:22-33. When all was calm, Peter said "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus simply said "Come". With his eyes fixed only on Christ, Peter got out of the boat and walked confidently in faith towards Christ. But then the wind picked up and the waves came crashing around him, he became afraid, most likely removing his eyes from Christ and he began to sink, crying out "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Then the wind died down.
How many times have we done this...had our eyes fixed on Christ when our struggles were low but as soon as the waves came crashing around us, we removed our eyes from Christ in fear and doubt and began to sink thinking "why is this happening to me? Lord, save me!". It is through the storms of life where we gather our strength from Christ because through each storm we face, our eyes remaining soley on Christ, we become stronger when we proceed through it to the end. Sometimes this takes only a short time, sometimes a while and sometimes through most of our lives with small breaks in between. But with faith in Christ, we never pass through the storms and struggles alone.
Isaiah 43:1-2 states:
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
This week, lets make it a point to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, even when the waves come crashing around us...never removing our gaze and never doubting Christ's ability to see us through to the end.
Have a blessed week :hug: