Writing about tough times is not a simple thing to do. Suffering. Desert experience. Hardships. My sin. You hang whatever label you want on it. We like to throw religious terms at these things, and I really can’t be bothered to go into that, because it doesn’t matter too much what the label might be. That doesn’t help you through it. When I read this verse in 1 Peter 5:10, I realize something that immediately lifts my spirits.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The second part is good stuff too, but the beginning part ignites my hope. ‘And after you have suffered…’ So you’re saying this is going to end? Or at least, I will find peace with where I’m at and move on with my life? Well that’s a good thing. But wait. What do I do between now, and when I eventually reach that place? You know, between the tears of pain and the tears of joy and relief?
This isn’t a case of me throwing some smart sentences around. This is what I’ve been finding as my source of comfort and there might well be 1 thing here that makes you go ‘hmmm’.
It’s simple to write about, but try and put it into practice. Easier said than done.
It’s good to know there’s a Holy God, who keeps His promises, working things for our good. Til the good times roll around; we wait, because we can believe they’re coming.
When we’re hurting and lost, we can find direction in the word of God. It’s packed with Truth.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
We tend to do a lot of thinking when we hit rock bottom; trying to justify our anger and lack of faith. We blame God, others and ourselves and we forget about the goodness of God from our past experience. So go and get your journal. Now read it. Go back to the times you expressed your faith and the faithfulness of God with all that passion. You need that to fuel you when you feel totally the opposite. Use your testimonies to tow yourself out of the mud. Then read the testimonies of others; characters from the Word, people in your inner circle that you trust; whoever. Just soak it all up. Let it be your fuel. Trustworthy Christian resources: books, DVD’s, radio or whatever. Let the encouragement be poured into the chasm of your hurt. Just don’t neglect the Word. You need your OWN revelation, we don’t just want to build our faith on the revelation that God gives others, do we?
So now we wait. I’m encouraged by what Peter wrote, and that is that the tide will turn, the days will become brighter and the mourning will turn to gladness. I don’t know how or when, but I know there’s good ahead. Now we do what we need to do and allow the testing to produce steadfastness so we can become full and complete, lacking in nothing. Do you mind if I take a seat? I don’t know how long this might take.