If Suffering Comes

 I suppose the title of this post should be "When Suffering Comes" since, really, there is no 'if' about the reality of suffering.

It will come.

I've had some conversations with dear ones this year concerning suffering. Many sense or feel that suffering is at hand for various reasons.

I believe their thoughts and reasons are valid, especially in light of the many new and sometimes alarming changes we currently find our world going through.

One preparation for suffering comes up most often and that is the desire to memorize Scripture and hymns to prepare a treasure of hope for the heart during trials.

It's a blessing to me to know people are filling their hearts with such preparation because I know what a balm it will be for the heart.

I've heard of people living in countries who would face death if they are found with a Bible.

They sneak into nearby free countries and memorize Scripture so they can carry it back home in their hearts. The Word is the balm for their weary and troubled hearts 

One aspect of hope during trial is learning how to live within the moment. 

Not looking ahead down the road in concern about how bad tomorrow or even the next hour may become.

Living in, and meeting the need of this moment, is as beneficial in trial as having a heart full of Scripture. 

Scripture will comfort and bring rest, but if the heart is not trained to live within the moment it can be difficult to focus on the Word hidden within the heart .

As we practice truly living in the moment life becomes restful.

Our movements are more relaxed. We work quietly, speak thoughtfully,  and no longer push ourselves through the day.

Schedules and to do lists become second place to truly savoring and living within this moment before our Creator.

This will take practice.

It's not human nature.

Even in the midst of a full day we can work peacefully without the tense feeling of 'someone pushing us from behind' as one of my children once defined anxiety and stress.

We step into this freedom by understanding that God truly is in control, and we live to please Him and not man.

Doing our work as unto the Lord, thinking on things that are pure, lovely and honorable help us maintain a quiet mind and heart.

We cannot always create circumstances that meet our desires.

Problems are often out of our hands

What we can choose is how we will respond.

We can accept what has been given because we trust in our Sovereign God Who holds our moments in His hand.

We can use the gifts He has given us to minister for this very moment, remembering that in each circumstance He has placed us we are placed "for such a time as this."

A Christian brings the beauty of the Lord into every circumstance they enter.

They are the light and hope carriers of this world.

The aged missionary Bertha Smith told a story of a young missionary couple in China when the Japanese came with gunfire and terror.

She said that they were very frightened, and she knew it was because they were new to the sufferings of war. She felt at rest and sang the hymn "How Firm A Foundation"to them to comfort their hearts as the bombs fell around them 

Another story comes to mind of Betsie Ten Boom while she and Corrie were in the concentration camp.

Corrie recalls walking past the cell holding Betsie and some other women.

She noticed Betsie had placed the arms of the ladies coats over the chair back next to each coat in a gesture of unity and love.

She had also tidied the cell and Corrie knew Betsie was within the cell praying for and sharing Christ's love with each person.

This is Christ living His life of love through us as His children.

We exist to bring beauty and Christ's love to the people we are in connection with.

We are the fragrance of life.

We are salt and light.

That's why we're still here.

This is our ministry.

Every circumstance God places us in is our mission field.

May we be found faithful moment by moment.