Tuesday, October 30, 2012

When we have pain or lose someone

Philippians 3:7-4:1, New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,  let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Psalm 119:165, (NKJV)

165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Galatians 5:22, (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

John 14:27, (NKJV)

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Psalm 4:3-8, (NKJV) (This is a good section to read when one who is His Child seeks His truth in His Word)

But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Numbers 6:22-26, (NKJV) (Though this is for the house of Israel I claim it when looking to be blessed of the Lord especially in trying times. The Lord loves to bless those who are His.) 

22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’
My Comments: A few thoughts on when our loved one goes home to be with the Lord or we find life hard to bare. Remember He never said life would be easy and when we read Scripture we understand it will not be. His and those who are not His will have trials and tribulations and we are asked to carry our Cross so we can expect the trials and tribulations to be heavy ones at times yet He always promises to be with us and He will help us to come through them and we will be better for them. Even when we lose our loved ones He is there to bring us through. I have lost many in my life and had things (many would consider to be hardships or horrendous things) happen in my life yet in all of them none have hurt as much as the empty space of losing my husband.

Many of you have read some of the things I have gone through in my life. I have been raped, molested, lost all my Grandparents, Parents and even my Stepparents, and I have gone through the pain of losing two of my children and 4 miscarriages and the loss of my oldest Grandson. Yet though these things and others were painful I was with the grace of God able to work through the pain. I am working through this pain and finding the joy. Joy that my beloved is home with our Lord. Joy that he does not suffer anymore. Joy that one day I will see him and all my loved ones. Joy that some of our children will be in Heaven as well as some are saved through faith in Jesus and His Gospel. Joy that my David's life has touched many lives and has helped strengthen other believers walks and brought yet others to the Lord through his story of redemption. Yes, many joys yet for a time I could not understand why the emptiness was so strong at times.

I asked the Lord why and he impressed on me the answer. Each and every time when there was pain there was someone with me to give me focus. They were where I got my hugs and they were the warmth of comfort in the physical. This time there was no one here and though I knew I had my Lord to comfort me I missed the warmth a human body can give. Once I knew this I was able to right my thinking and not let the evil one continue to confuse me. Yes, I cry at times though I do not wallow in self pity. Yes the pain can be very strong and in those times I turn to my Abba who waits to give me the help I need sometimes in a song I hear, a bird playing in the sky, children laughing and His Word always and often in the unexpected.

One day I was on the couch and had given into crying and then turned my eyes heavenward and at once there was a knock on the door. It was a friend of mine come to have tea with me and visit. How kind of the Lord to send her here. She gives the best hugs in the world! And I know her hugs were from the Lord. What a wonderful God. He loves us so much and just waits for us to place ourselves before Him. Yes, I have watched my husband go to be with our Father in Heaven yet I have gained so much more. He inspired me with his love of God and others and his gentleness and humility. His gift was his quiet gentleness that led people to God and I am thankful for having had him in my life for 36 years.

Abba, thank You for being there for all of us and help us to turn to You at all times and to turn faster and faster each time we go through hard times and pain. Help us to know Your mercy and love are only a prayer away and to be patient if the answer we pray for is long in coming. Help us to know that if we do not get the answer we pray for that You love us so much You only give us the answers best for us and everyone at the time. Use our pain to grow us in ways we would never have imagined. May it be used for Your glory and honor.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example in Your life and especially in the desert for forty days when You were tempted by Satan.  Thank You for showing us that even when life is painful, people leave us, or hurt us as they did to You, that we can call on our Father in Heaven and we will be heard. Thank You for showing us how to persevere and find joy even in hard times. Help us to always keep our eyes on our Abba Father and not on our circumstances, the circumstances of other, on others or ourselves.
Holy Spirit, fill us with all the Father wants for us to learn, understand and give to the world in His name. Fill us with His knowledge, love and truth. Thank You for the strength and peace You fill us with in order that we may glorify the Father and point others to the Lord Jesus.
In Jesus name in union with the Holy spirit I pray. Amen

Rebishka

1 comment:

  1. I know I recently updated this one yet felt a nudging from the Holy Spirit to update it again to hope it helps someone. Let me know what you think. Be blessed.

    ReplyDelete