When suffering takes place, you don't have to have it all figurate out. It is impossible for us to know all the solutions. Honestly, we only need to be aware of a few genuinely beautiful promises and a select few tried-and-true paths taken by others we know and hold in high regard to begin moving away from the place of desolation.
Know this… without initially patiently, even tenaciously pursuing God, no one has the astounding capacity to be "sorrowful" and yet, at the same time, "always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10). When our storms approach, we must understand where to stand and where to gaze, where to turn or where/what to hold on… so it is always best to acquire all this beforehand. Like anything worthwhile, suffering well demands diligent planning.
With over a dozen teachings for the valley, the apostle Peter authored his first letter to help Christians suffer properly. While their particular pain, “Persecution,” might be strange to us today. However, pain/suffering in itself is shared by many of us today. So if you haven’t read 1 Peter and you are about to enter or are currently in a season of suffering, I recommend that you begin today.
Anyhow, one thing that the Apostle Peter does effectively in (1 Peter) is to redirect Christians to look/consider/ponder what eternity in Christ means, not simply the concept of Heaven, but more importantly, an Eternity in the company of God. Why? Because the limits of our humanity help grief/pain/sorrow appear everlasting when they are truly not.
In Colombia, they say… “No hay mal que dure 100 años, ni cuerpo que lo resista,” which is trying to convey the principle of “Something Gotta Give” --- or if you prefer a word-by-word translation, "There is no evil that lasts a hundred years as there is nobody that resists it.” This means that the suffering you are experiencing today will not last forever (even if it feels like it) or at the very least, your body will not be able to tolerate it. One way or another, you will know peace again. Some will claim to be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing"—as Christians are expected to—however, this miracle (because it is a miracle) cannot take place in our heart unless God reveals some of the benefits of suffering… This can only be revealed by the Grace of God, which takes time and is not an overnight kind of thing.
People of God, let us acknowledge that we will all experience pain, some of us more so than others, but it is not going to last forever. The only thing that will last forever is God. See the apostle saying, "After you have suffered a little while," writes Peter, "the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10–11).
We will do well to remember that Sin wants sorrow or desolation to surround us, thus obscuring and justifying poor choices or evil behavior in many ways. Evil wants us to dwell and live in sorrow or desolation to keep us busy; however, God uses (Not that God creates it, but uses) that season of sorry or desolation as a catalyst for our faith, an opportunity for us and those around us to grow… Ultimately know this, whatever this is you are dealing with… “Will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11: 5...
For the Glory of God, and remembrance of you...
Josefina 'La Niña' Narvaez | 04-12-1929 / 04-23-2023
