"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
--The Problem of Pain C.S. Lewis
So true!
Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
1Th 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2Co 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
2Co 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
2Co 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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Tribulation can come in many froms. It's truthful to say that we all have our own tribulations in life, each one of us suffers. It's so easy to shout to God and blame Him for all our suffering. C.S. Lewis' quote above rings true. "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Often a person is only aware of God when they are in pain and suffering but it's often to recognize His authority and then blame Him for the suffering, to question the reason why God allows the suffering, yet while no suffering existed there was little thought at all of God's existence. A wake up call to the reality of God and the belief we have within us of His reality, His existence, His supremacy. He is our Creator, and Redeemer, and He wants so much for us to be with Him. We question Him with our limited understanding, we rail at Him in our blind imperfect way questioning Him at every turn, at every instance and opportunity and we lay blame thickly upon Him. By faith we have to believe He did not create us with pain and suffering in mind. By faith we must believe that His love will overrule all and one day the very Son He sent to die for us will welcome us to Him and there will be no more suffering. The hope, the faith, the belief that there is so much more than this world, this life and that which is so much more is found in God through His Son.
We have companions in tribulation.
We are told we would suffer tribulation.
God will comfort us in our tribulations. We will endure suffering. We will have consolation and salvation. Our hope is in Christ, who suffered in a way we will never fully understand.
No suffering can separate us from the love of Christ- nothing!
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Christ alone we find peace.
Being woken up to our frail existence is a blessing.
May God Bless and Keep Us in HIM!
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in the righteousness only found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
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