Dear Ones,
Hope you have a relaxing weekend. I am going to church today to help set up for a large funeral tomorrow. Still hard to believe my friend Barb is now with the Lord. The last Sunday she was in church she hugged me good-by but I never dreamed I won’t see her until glory!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Al got me a book for Mother’s Day that I am reading called When the Journey Hurts. It shares how we are not alone on the journey of suffering and pain, for there are many others on the road as well. It’s not about celebrating our pain, but knowing God is with us in it and trials have purpose. One of the authors was married to a woman who lived in pain every day and physical weakness for several years. They finally went to Mayo and were given two underlying diagnoses, but there was no solution for either of them. The husband wondered how his wife would take it, but her response was, “At least now we know! For years now we have been trying to find a way around the storm, but now we know there is no other way. We have to sail through it.”

Most all of us have had storms and painful journeys at times, and a few have pain for the rest of their lives. But I was pleasantly surprised that research shows there is a connection between suffering and flourishing, for our pain and suffering can lead us more deeply into the Lord. We draw on our faith when coping with suffering, coming to know that the Lord is close to us in our pain and finding meaning in it.

Perhaps all of us have had our worlds turned upside down, when everything changes suddenly. Our very identity may feel challenged and our outlook on life may not make sense any more. But as we seek the Lord, we may find he may have allowed cancer or some other illness into our lives for deeper reasons, and we come to know Him on a whole different level. I would say most of us would have goals that would definitely change, cherishing deep relationships more than obtaining worldly things. Suffering may be the very thing that causes us to grow into His likeness (II Cor. 3:18) and enable us to give Him the glory.

Challenge for today: Think of an instance in your life that caused you to suffer, and then thank the Lord for the good that came from it.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy