Hello Friends,
You know, sometimes I sit down to write and words pour out of me like Niagara Falls after a good rain, other times I’m more like the Mojave desert. During Kayleigh’s journey it was easy, I would fill you in on how she was doing, and let you know how God was helping us through. But now as we get a little further out, I find that I want the focus to be less on our family and more on this amazing God we serve.
Tonight was one of those nights where I was struggling. I had many ideas but none seems like just the “right” one. So I opened my Bible and just started reading. I have discovered no matter the upheaval going on around me, if I will sit down with the Lord’s word, and open my heart to what He has to say, He will speak to me through the scriptures. I don’t always find the answers I am looking for right away, but I do find His incredible peace.
After reading a while I had an abundance of peace in my heart but still no words. I was about to lay my face down on the opening page of Ephesians when a quote jumped out at me, right there on the page. It isn’t part of scripture but a modern day authors introduction to the book of Ephesians.
“God does not waste our suffering. Life in a fallen world entails human suffering, but never without a divine purpose.”
Wow, talk about a perspective change. Suffering certainly isn’t something anyone aspires to, but it is a part of everyone’s life. Sometimes our suffering is huge and immediately life altering, other times it is a daily burden that becomes increasingly heavy. Sometimes you can see a persons suffering and other times it is well disguised. It comes in all shapes and sizes and affects every age, gender, ethnic, and socioeconomic group. It also is not a very welcome topic of conversation, it’s just too sad for many people to deal with.
But… if you can change your view of suffering, and start looking for God’s divine purpose in the hurts, it begins to change your heart. I am living proof that is true. It doesn’t take the hurt away, but it does change my perspective. It is no longer about what is happening to me, rather it becomes more about what God can accomplish through me. He becomes my focus, not the storm, and that is where I find peace.
I am echoing Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians for each of you reading this…
Ephesians 1:18
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
God loves you, so. And He has called you to a specific purpose, one that is perfectly tailored, only to you. I pray you will choose to follow Him and be faithful.
Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜
I love this picture of my silly monkey. It was taken a year ago today. So much has changed but my love for her remains.
