Pouring Pain

"When it rains, it pours."  It's amazing how many times I have heard that saying before, and yet have never found it to be a helpful analogy of the very real pain that can be experienced and endured in this life.  Rain doesn't hurt.  In fact, I love it when it rains.  I love it when my girls run excitedly outside with rubber boots on looking for the Biggest puddles they can to splash their daddy with the biggest stomps in the water their little bodies can create.  I strongly dislike pain...especially when its "pouring" pain.


I had a wonderful meeting with Eric Helliwell yesterday (worship Pastor of Harvest Muskoka).
Look at this passage we discussed together:

1 Peter 5:6-11 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

What an incredible passage!  I found this extremely helpful to be reminded again of the reality that there is an enemy stalking me like a lion; wanting to devour me.  The passage doesn't seem to give us much hope for escaping without some form of wounding.  In fact, it reminds us that as a part of the "brotherhood" (Christian Family) we should expect to be attacked just like the rest of our family around the world.  Ha...look at verse 10 "And after you have suffered a little while..."  Honestly, I have had a hard month.  Is it ever good for me to be mindful (reminded) that it is only for a "little while," because in the most difficult moments of pain, discouragement, loss, disappointment, etc. it is often hard to remember that in the perspective of eternity, or the existence of humanity, or even the span of our own life...this lion attack, if we "resist him, firm in [our] faith," it will only last for a "little while." 

Wait, there's more!  Vs 10: "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."  It is this same God who gave us His eternal Glory through Jesus Christ ("the anointed One") that will also pick us back up (restore), and speak life and true identity back into us (confirm).  He gives us the encouragement, perspective, teaching, etc. we need to stand firmly grounded (strength) to be who He has intended for us to be, and do what He has called us to do (establish).  Vs. 11: "To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

What an incredible God we serve!
In case you're wondering...my circumstances still haven't changed much.  If anything, things have actually become even more difficult, but I continue to put my hope and trust in "the God of all grace."  I know that He has not been taken off guard by my circumstances.  He has a purpose and a plan.  I don't know what it is, but as long as it is the same God "who has called [me] to his eternal glory in Christ;" I Love what He did through the Jesus plan, and I will trust Him with this one too.