Monday, May 04, 2009

Suffering

Sadness presses in. All around me bad things happen to people I love. People who "deserve" better.

My Mom battles cancer - over and over.

A Mommy loses a baby she hasn't even met.

A wife loses her husband and children lose their Daddy - way, way too soon.

Sadness presses in. It hangs like a cloud over all the activities, the laughter, the conversations. It threatens to bring discouragement and depression.

I woke early this morning, and despite the sadness, the birds are chirping. The sun is peeking through the clouded sky. The flowers stretch heavenward, soaking in the dawning warmth.

How do we cope, Lord? How do we counter the sadness? How do we raise our heads out of this nightmare?

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

9 comments:

  1. Beautiful! Our God is good even when this life is not.
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  2. Life is full of so many disappointments and sadness. It is through our strength that we carry on. We can only be thankful that we have a God that knows all the reasons why, and that we will all meet Him soon.
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  3. Sigh, I know. It's been tough lately. (((hugs)))

    I think the ONLY answer is how David responded. He always poured out his heart to God; every sadness, every frustration, every disappointment. BUT he always ended with praise.

    It's why I love that song we sing at church. Blessed be your name when I'm found in the desert place, when I walk through the wilderness...Blessed be your name.
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  4. Thank you for reminding me of that song, Daisy! I love it too! Barbie and Pam, thank you. :-)
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  5. Wow, I was struck by events over the last few days too, although I had extreme highs to go with the lows. I can't imagine going through it without Christ. At least we have His promises to keep us secure when the world crashes around us. www.thoughtfulword.wordpress.com
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  6. I'm so sorry Emily. We can find comfort though, in knowing that through the sadness, things do go on. The sun will rise tomorrow, the birds will sing, the flowers will grow, and that is encouragement for us to go on. Just like the rainbow after the rain.
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  7. Oh Emily, I'm so sad that you have to go through so much and watch people you love enduring it too. Praying for more birds singing and more cheerful sunrises and more happy days with the ones you love.
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  8. (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))
    what a wonderful verse... it's one of my favorites. it's wonderful, the comfort we can find in Scripture.
    praying for you!
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  9. Dearest Em,

    Many are the times in this life that I just soooo don't understand why different things have to happen. Or the rotten timing of them.

    King David always helps me out in moments (months) like these: "Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.From the end of the earth I will cry to You,When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:1-2). And David knew the Rock! "There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God" (1 Sam 2:2).
    You know I have not ceased praying! (((( Em ))))


    As the Lord draws you into His snug and safe embrace,through all of these sad instances, I am continuing to pray.
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