No Pain or Trial is Wasted

Most of my posts are from my own personal life experiences. St. Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 1:4 "That you may be comforted with the same comfort that I have been comforted with." And, indeed, it is MY utmost desire to comfort others with the same comfort that I have been comforted with during my own difficult times. I want to help others learn their lessons.....much faster than I did. That being said, I segue from my own words to a dear friend's words that I read recently in his FB post. I was so stirred that I had to pass along an excerpt for you. Anyone facing pain and trials can learn from his words.

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable.” Orson F. Whitney

Two events this week caused me to pause and reflect on the words above. On Thursday morning, the son of a family in our church congregation was killed in a motorcycle accident. He leaves behind a young wife and a grieving family. His father and sister spoke in church today about how challenging the past 72 hours have been. Despite their grief, the family's faith in God has not diminished. They choose to trust in Him even though they do not understand why their son/brother was taken back home at such a young age. They believe they will see him again someday because of the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and testified the family has received many blessings in the form of "tender mercies" since he was killed. They have been strengthened. I admire the example of this sweet family. They move forward with faith and our prayers are with them.

Yesterday morning, after our daughter Aryn had been complaining of abdominal pain and running a high fever, two of her uncles who are health care professionals diagnosed the problem as a possible ruptured appendix and encouraged us to take her to the ER ASAP. After some tests, it was determined she needed to have her appendix removed but it had not yet ruptured. They rushed her into surgery and she came home last night. She is recovering just fine! Although this surgery will cost us several thousands of dollars even with insurance, how grateful we are that Aryn was protected. We realize had her uncles not identified the problem when they did, things could have been MUCH worse.

During her surgery, the veil was very thin for Aryn. She was blessed to see family members on the other side...my parents & Belenda's father, our daughter and grandson, future children coming to our family, and other relatives she didn't recognize. Through this trial, Aryn and our family received this blessing of further understanding that life after this Earth continues. My parents were very happy. My dad was holding Aryn's hand and comforting her...even teasing her like he did when he was alive.

Why do some things happen in this life? I don't know. But, I have faith that God is in control and through all our trials and experiences, we can find those "tender mercies" and blessings that will "build up our characters, purify our hearts, expand our souls, and make us more tender and charitable.” And I conclude this post by sharing and encouraging us all with God’s words, from Romans 8:18-23 "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later.”

Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Thank you, Eddie Espiritu, for blessing and encouraging us with God's words and your heartfelt words,

What is PERFECT Peace?

A couple of weeks ago, I awoke with the words "perfect peace" going on in my mind. I'm always quoting Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."  I don't think I've ever thought about PERFECT peace before.  What is PERFECT peace?

I did a little word study and this is what I found. When that Isaiah 26:3  promise was given, Israel was in a dark period of her history. Now, it helps us during this time when we are surrounded by gloom, doubt, fear and worry. When all is going well, it's easy to read a promise like this in a very superficial way, but when clouds of trial, disappointment, anxiety and alarm blow across our skies and the sun is hidden, these words become very precious to us.

There's not a promise in the Bible that says we will be free from troubles, but God promises something better. He promises peace in the midst of the storm.  In the fiercest of battles, while the storm is at it’s height, the trusting soul can know inward peace and tranquility. There can be a deep down calm and quiet confidence.  PERFECT peace is a condition of freedom from disturbance within the soul.  The Hebrew word for peace, "Shalom," has the idea of soundness of health. Being filled with spiritual peace is to be spiritually healthy and free from all discord in the soul.  There is no room for jealousy, envy, discontentment, uncontrolled temper, selfishness, pride, intolerance, harsh criticism, fear of anxiety, in the soul that is filled with peace.

My photo inspiration, today, gives visual to this PERFECT peace, and so does the story that accompanies it.

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked. One was of a calm lake. It was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This picture did not look peaceful at all.  But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... PERFECT peace. Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture. Do you know why?  "Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.  That is the real meaning of peace."

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

"I have told you all this so that you may have 'peace' in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Enough said.  I wish you this PERFECT PEACE today!

Good Friday? or, Black Friday?

Shouldn't "Good Friday" be called "Black Friday"? After all, on this day, the most scandalous betrayal of justice in human history took place. He wasn’t guilty of any crime or sin. After the illegal trials, this loving, compassionate, giving, caring, innocent Man was stripped and tied to a post. He was whipped and beatened -- too horrible to even imagine. He was betrayed by His friends,and spit on by countless people, some of whom, just a few days before, treated Him as royalty as He entered the city. He was forced to carry a wooden cross to Calvary where nails were driven through his wrists and ankles and He was left to die. And, bottom line, He could have called ten thousand angels to his side, but He refused. Instead, He died there for you and me.

What is this message? For us, to never again wonder if we are loved. God thought our eternal life was worth the death of His only Son. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, would never perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) NOW, we know why it's called "GOOD FRIDAY".

Someone asked Jesus, "How much do You love me?" He answered, "This much," as He spread out his arms and died. This is a TRUE love story written with you and me in mind. Isn't that enough reason for us to slow down and literally put on the brakes, today, to REMEMBER and GIVE THANKS for this GOOD Friday when HE loved us -- TO INFINITY and BEYOND!