It has been difficult to not think about SUFFERING lately. With the storms that pummeled the Southeast (our house included…new roof , gutters, and windows still to come), the Tornado in Joplin, and the fires in Texas and Arizona, people are suffering. Many people are asking the question, “why?” I try to stay out of the, “why” and focus more on where God is at in the midst of it all. I’ve started a new devotional put together by Jim Branch and read a fantastic word of encouragement this morning. My reading came after my 3rd consecutive commute into downtown listening to testimonies and statistics on recent events with the storms and wild fires.
“But if we are willing, the experience of grief and suffering can deepen and widen our ability to participate in life. We can become more grateful for the gifts we have been given, more open-handed in our handling of the events of life, more sensitive to the whole mysterious process of life, and more trusting in our adventure with God.” -Tracks of a Fellow Struggler by John R. Claypool-
I think John hit the nail right on the head. I talk a lot in my personal and spiritual life about how a greater awareness of all things will increase the quality of our lives. Especially when it comes to our feelings of grief, sadness, and suffering. We need a willing spirit to share with others the happenings of our hearts so that we can navigate through the cleanliness and the messiness appropriately.
On April 27th, 2011 many lives would change forever. A ridiculous weather system began working its way across the Southeast that produced supercell after supercell and forced hundreds of thousands of people into hiding in their homes. Our family (Becca, myself, and our 2 dogs) were in the guest bathroom, an inner-room with no windows, surrounded by cushions and pillows. There were some tense moments when the golf ball plus sized hail began to fall and we had no power and no idea of what was happening or what was coming. We were afraid. I grew up in the Midwest, where tornado warnings and spring storms seemed like a weekly thing. I had never, however, experienced anything like that night. When it was all said and done our house was still standing and we said a huge prayer of Thanksgiving for God’s hand of protection on our lives. Others were not so lucky in other parts of the country affected by the same storm, and that was difficult for us to think about. My awareness of the blessings in my life, of the things that matter most, went through the roof during and after that night. I remember thinking during a couple of instances as the storm raged on outside that all I wanted was my next breath, my life, and the next day.
I believe that God has revealed himself to our nation in a powerful way through the events of this spring. I have faith that our God continues to reign and continues to Love and to teach us. Ken Gire said, “IN times of upheaval, a voice from heaven says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ It doesn’t say, ‘Be still and know why.’ IN a distant day the gradual sacrament of understanding may be offered to us. Today what is offered us is the body and blood of Christ, who suffered, not that we might not suffer, but that our suffering might be like his. His greatest suffering was the Cross. Part of that suffering was an unanswered question.”
I still struggle, like so many others, to understand the “why” in everything going on. But the absolute truth of the WHY rests in the ABSOLUTE TRUTH of our Savior. It is not for us to question. Rather, we ought to have an abundance of faith that can be shared with anybody and everybody. My prayers of intercession continue to be lifted up to God on behalf of those who are hurting. May we all be aware today of the richness that comes in the blessings from the One True God. Have a great Wednesday!
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