Suffering reminds us of how short earthly life is.
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When suffering takes us to the place where we long for an explanation and some relief, we may find ourselves just waiting ... waiting and not even sure what we're really waiting for. I imagine that today some people are waiting for food, justice, protection, peace, logic, cooperation, and unity. Ultimately, though, we are waiting on God to act.
David puts words in our mouth to find out what we're waiting for: "Make me know my end and what is the measure of my days, let me know how fleeting I am!" (v.4)
In other words, "I don't want to waste my life bogged down in turmoil and empty pursuits. Put this life into perspective for me."
- Sometimes suffering is due to my own foolishness. v.1,11
- Sometimes suffering is due to God's discipline. v.10-11
- Sometimes suffering is due to evil people. v.1,2
- Sometimes suffering is due to life in a fallen world. 4-6
I am a sojourner here (v.12), a "guest," the Psalmist says. Heaven is my real home.
Even in the midst of suffering, this helps us know we can "smile again" (v.13). There is hope for deliverance in God. There is hope for now in the midst of the suffering and hope for our future. If you're hearing the news and you're like me, then you might need some perspective. Suffering reminds us of how short earthly life is. Suffering here helps us look to the heavenly.
Is God using suffering in your life right now to turn you to the heavenly?
Read Psalm 39 here.
I'm a firm believer that suffering brings us back to God. Glad I found you. My twitter recommended you!
ReplyDeleteWell Shanda I'm so glad you found me too! Thanks to Twitter ;) It's so hard to "see it" in the midst of the suffering, but the pain is really meant to make us cling to our Heavenly Father. It's so easy to cling to something else "nearby" in our world, but only He is worth leaning on hard.
ReplyDeleteJulie Sanders
www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com
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