Traipsing Through Trials and Tribulation

I was taken away with our church's own Deborah Howard and her wisdom on suffering that she shared with the women of our church on Tuesday night. She is a hospice nurse and has recently written a book called "Sunsets" about death and dying. Being that I went to school for nursing and withdrew after about a year, because I could not handle the dying I would see, this spoke to my heart. I would like to share with you what I took home from this event.
How do you respond to adversity? I Peter 4:12. Do not be surprised when your heart is broken, nothing can happen to us that is not caused or allowed by God. God is all-powerful, all-good all the time. What kind of God do you want? One that will cater to your whims and demands, if that is what you would like you have found your god already, yourself. Satan loves to mislead people, if you listen to what people say and believe it without looking it up in Scripture to find if it is true, you may fall prey to one of Satan's attacks.
Do you think God will spare us from adversity because we are exemplary? Paul was a great example of an exemplary man and other than Job he probably went through the most recorded adversity. Although he went through so many trials he knew he was blessed because of his relationship with God, that no one could take away.
When others around us are suffering here are some things we can do for them.

1. Come alongside them, just be there.
2. Be specific with your requests, figure out their needs and meet them.
   

Purposes of suffering.
We are to arm ourselves with the tools you need before you will need them.

• To complete our sanctification-we would not be who we are without the things that have happened to us. God knows exactly what we need to become what He has planned for us. We have to be receptive to what He is doing, be obedient, and trust even when we do not understand. We tend to focus on how bad it hurts. Think of how God is using this in your life. Don't rejoice because of the suffering but rather what it will bring about. Romans 8:28-29, Romans 5:3-5
• Drive us to God-health is a good thing but sickness is better if that is what it takes to bring us to God.
• Teach us God's law-submit to God's will like a patient submits to the surgeon in surgery. Bring the Word of God to bear upon your situation. Remember the adversity you have been through.
• Teach us to trust God's promises-makes it a little easier each time we face that adversity.
• Demonstrate God's love to us-He blesses us through adversity. James 1:17
• Discipline his wayward children-this really hurts Him more than it hurts us. Proverbs 3:11-12
• To equip us to comfort others II Corinthians 1:3-5
• Prepare us for coming glory-first have suffering and then glory Romans 8:18
• Give us opportunities to witness-tell people why we respond the way we do
• To make us more grateful and appreciative
• To wean us from this world-we will be preparing ourselves for when we will not have any pain and suffering which will be in heaven II Corinthians 5:1-2
• Create ultimate glory and reward in the life to come I Peter 5:4, Matt 5:12
• To loosen our grip on the people and things we love-when we are ready to die we do not give up that admits defeat but rather we let go (of others dying or our own life)
• To reveal sin in us-may bring out the worst in us. Ask God to search our heart and reveal our sin to us. It may magnify our faith.
• To punish the wicked-this is not for believers, he only punishes unbelievers. He disciplines believers but not punish, because when He looks on believers He sees Christ's righteousness covering us.

What are we to do when we experience trials?

1. Recognize that He is God
2. Stay calm
3. Rejoice in our sufferings James 1:2-4
4. Act responsibly and thoughtfully-learn all you can about the circumstance
5. Go to God's Word, use a concordance if needed
6. Keep your eyes focused on Him and not others, especially do not compare or ask why me and not them, just keep looking to Him. John 21:18-24
7. Pray-ask others to pray for you

I was really touched and I hope these notes are understandable to those who could not be there to actually hear her. I am reminded of a time a friend asked me if I thought we were a victim of our neighborhood (circumstance) and if I thought my life would be different if those things had not happened to me. My answer then and now would be I would not be who I am today if it were not for God allowing those things to happen to me. Hopefully soon I can put my testimony on a blog so you can understand more about why that friend would ask that. God has been abundant in His grace towards me. May His Name always be praised.