Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Chicken Soup for the Soul cocreators Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen with Chris Karcher
ABC's Dr. Timothy Johnson,
Finding God in the Questions, and Chris
.
Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, and Chris Karcher
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Seek grace in the darkness to ease pain and suffering
One of the most surprising aspects of grace is it is often hidden in turmoil. Personal hardship, frustration, boredom, irritations, encounters with difficult people, financial difficulties, and burnout can all be acts of grace. Sometimes we have to crash before we are willing to slow down.
The Disciple Peter wrote, “Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.”[i]
We all experience pain. Some people are faced with horrible suffering and inexplicable pain. Sometimes we find ourselves so far down in the pit, it is hard to imagine we will ever be able to climb out.
The temptation is to try and figure out why bad things happen to good people. Trying to make sense out of suffering is one of the most difficult aspects of our faith walk. But logic can work against us because it keeps us from trusting in God.
Who can explain hardship and tragedy? According to Scripture, we should not try. “Lean not unto thine own understanding,” Proverb commands.[ii] As a friend says, it helps to understand we will never understand.
Please be aware, it is not my intent to trivialize pain. Our hurts are real and, well . . . painful. But hear the hope of Romans, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”[iii]
In The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom said, “Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future only He can see.”[iv]
Darkness precedes growth. Sometimes, God may bring us face to face with an obstacle until we learn. This is not to imply evil is God’s will. Evil is the result of human will—free will—and wrong choices. But learning the way of love is a growth experience, although growth is not always in the direction of our choosing.
You may reprint this article provided it includes the following paragraph, including contact information:
Copyright © 2003 by Christine N. Karcher. Chris Karcher is the author of Relationships of Grace, Amazing Things I Know About You, and Relationships of Grace Workbook. To order books and tapes, schedule Chris for speaking engagements, or subscribe to Chris’ newsletter, visit www.relationshipsofgrace.com, email order@relationshipsofgrace.com, or call 1-877-GET-GRACE (1-877-438-4722).