HEAVENSREEF

We all face hard things……..some of us have that hard thing continuously in our view.  When we look at the life of CHRIST HE endured hard things too.  But every day HE went out to a quiet place and spent time with HIS FATHER. 

There is a way we all want to go and then there is a way that GOD would have us go.  But how do we know or even have an idea of what that is unless we spend time with HIM and time in HIS word to us? 

HARD THINGS SHOULD DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD.

If this isn’t happening to you or in you then you need to reexamine your relationship with GOD.  Is HE just a thought for you?  Is HE not a priority now?  Other things crowd our lives such as job, family and friends.  But do we place HIM first?  Do we place the ONE who died on the CROSS for us in obedience to HIS FATHER……..first?

I know in my heart that GOD touches us with hard things so that we will need in our souls, the touch of GOD!  Have you been touched recently?

JOB asked during all of his suffering this……..

JOB 2: 10  “SHALL WE ACTUALLY ACCEPT GOOD FROM GOD BUT NOT ACCEPT ADVERSITY?”

And the ESV says it this way…….

JOB 2: 10  “SHALL WE RECEIVE GOOD FROM GOD, AND SHALL WE NOT RECEIVE EVIL?”

There is good and there is evil in this world, both exist and both touch our lives from time to time.  GOD hands down both and we have to accept that HE is Sovereign over it all!

And when we do accept our hard things, we realize that it is all part of HIS plan anyway……a plan we may not understand, but a plan to draw us near.

I have said it before, I have always been a happily ever after kind of girl.  These past two years with cancer has taught me something far different.  I long to draw close to HIS peace and rest.  I cannot find it anywhere else in this world……..HIS touch has taught me this and changed my heart.  And when we find such comfort with HIM who knows our hard things then HE…….

2 CORINTHIANS 1: 4  “COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR AFFLICTION SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE IN ANY AFFLICTION.”

This comfort is learned through our own suffering.  We draw near to the LORD, HE draws near to us and then we draw near to others.  In the past when someone would share their physical suffering with me all I could think about was that I was glad it wasn’t me.  Now I understand the depth of what physical suffering can be for others and I listen with a whole different and understanding heart.

Our hard thing can prepare us for something coming……..I won’t waste my cancer.  I won’t waste my husband’s cancer.  I will be willing to be broken and yet strengthened by GOD who will guide me through all of it because my times are in HIS hands alone.  And I will be willing to share my story with anyone who will listen.

As John Piper says:  “we are lavished with mercy every day (even in the hard things) and will be made perfectly and eternally happy in the age to come.”

Don’t be afraid of suffering…….. don’t be afraid of those hard things!  Because the LORD JESUS experienced those very things, HE is there to comfort and guide us home.  And when we know this, we are able to share HIS touch with others around us in a compassionate and loving manner.  JESUS has always loved the broken and we should too.  

MATTHEW 5: 3-7  “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.  BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.  BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED.  BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE MERCY.”