The Holy Spirit is always with us, even in times of suffering.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. - Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
I recently learned of a young woman in the prime of her life who just learned that she has Muscular Sclerosis.(MS), a horrible disease for which there is no cure. Now I don’t know this young woman personally, but someone very close to me does and I am told that she is a fine young woman, a great student and will graduate from college this spring. She has a devoted Christian family and has the faith in her heart and a young gentleman in her life with the hope of wedding plans in the not too distant future. And now, with a future so bright and the beginning of that future after school clearly in sight, this disease strikes. It is also, of course, devastating to her family and especially her parents since suffering by a child is their worst nightmare. In spite of all this however, she is working hard to maintain an even keel and continue to strive ahead. And the reader might have the question: How does she do it? The answer is really quite simple, just difficult to execute and it's that she does it with her belief in her Lord and Savior and His love and grace.
I’m sure she is worried, probably afraid of what the future will hold from this disease for that is only natural. But with a loving family supporting her, and her reliance on her faith to guide her through this great trial of life, she will still be able to live a normal life with the proper nutrition and medical support and can marry that young man and enjoy life with the man she loves. What’s more, her ability to withstand such a trial in life will make her stronger with a richer faith and a better understanding of what Jesus did for all of us when He gave His life so that we might have the opportunity to live. She will also receive her just reward that will make the difficulty she faces on earth just a bad memory when she reaches her Salvation where there is no pain, no suffering, no hunger and no thirst in her new eternal body seated at God’s table.
No one can better describe how suffering strengthens a person than the Apostle Paul in the verses from the Book of Romans which opened this devotional. Suffering develops endurance which builds character and strengthens our hope for salvation. And with a life filled with the Holy Spirit, this young woman will know the love of God as so many never will and will find the Glory of Eternity will one day be hers. She will be eternally blessed. Think of it, a lifespan on earth is only seventy to eighty years on average. Granted it sounds like a long time, but when we compare it with eternity, it is just a speck on the chronology of time. Eternity will be forever and it will erase all of those bad times she faced and offer in their place beauty and unspeakable wonders that she will inherit forever. I pray for this young woman and her family as they navigate a course with so much uncertainty and concern, yet one that will build her strength and determination as an exceptional example of what faith can do. God bless her in the months and years to come.
I recently learned of a young woman in the prime of her life who just learned that she has Muscular Sclerosis.(MS), a horrible disease for which there is no cure. Now I don’t know this young woman personally, but someone very close to me does and I am told that she is a fine young woman, a great student and will graduate from college this spring. She has a devoted Christian family and has the faith in her heart and a young gentleman in her life with the hope of wedding plans in the not too distant future. And now, with a future so bright and the beginning of that future after school clearly in sight, this disease strikes. It is also, of course, devastating to her family and especially her parents since suffering by a child is their worst nightmare. In spite of all this however, she is working hard to maintain an even keel and continue to strive ahead. And the reader might have the question: How does she do it? The answer is really quite simple, just difficult to execute and it's that she does it with her belief in her Lord and Savior and His love and grace.
I’m sure she is worried, probably afraid of what the future will hold from this disease for that is only natural. But with a loving family supporting her, and her reliance on her faith to guide her through this great trial of life, she will still be able to live a normal life with the proper nutrition and medical support and can marry that young man and enjoy life with the man she loves. What’s more, her ability to withstand such a trial in life will make her stronger with a richer faith and a better understanding of what Jesus did for all of us when He gave His life so that we might have the opportunity to live. She will also receive her just reward that will make the difficulty she faces on earth just a bad memory when she reaches her Salvation where there is no pain, no suffering, no hunger and no thirst in her new eternal body seated at God’s table.
No one can better describe how suffering strengthens a person than the Apostle Paul in the verses from the Book of Romans which opened this devotional. Suffering develops endurance which builds character and strengthens our hope for salvation. And with a life filled with the Holy Spirit, this young woman will know the love of God as so many never will and will find the Glory of Eternity will one day be hers. She will be eternally blessed. Think of it, a lifespan on earth is only seventy to eighty years on average. Granted it sounds like a long time, but when we compare it with eternity, it is just a speck on the chronology of time. Eternity will be forever and it will erase all of those bad times she faced and offer in their place beauty and unspeakable wonders that she will inherit forever. I pray for this young woman and her family as they navigate a course with so much uncertainty and concern, yet one that will build her strength and determination as an exceptional example of what faith can do. God bless her in the months and years to come.
RSS Feed