Suffering...God's Will?

So, I have devoted some time now to the before mention question about suffering being God's will. I did not have to wait long for the first stirrings of the answer. The very day I posted the question a wonderful friend of mine had given me the book A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles Swindoll. That night I began reading it and was immediately in aw as I read the prologue. (pg. 23)


"As fear drained from Zacharias, something else flooded into the hollow of his chest. Something he hadn't felt for a long, long time. He searched for the right word. Relief? No. More than relief. Hope? Yes. Relief, confidence, joy, all combined into one. It was hope. Hope!"


Did you see it? If Zacharias had not endured his prior suffering he would not have understood the healing power of hope. WOW!!! Can you imagine? If we ourselves are always in the habit of being able to get whatever it is we ask for we will not ever be awed or WOWed by our merciful and powerful God!!! He gets no glory!!!


Many things opened up for me this past week as I waited for the answer to this question. Some of them were hard to endure but as I continued to be willing He continued to teach me. I had the wonderful privilege of playing with children who had various levels of abuse. Many times as I saw child after child coming in I thought to myself this is one job where you would PRAY for a slow day. Tears entered my eyes numerous times as I observed these mighty little warriors. After my time with them I came home to my blessed life and began to think about these children. Are we any better than these...that we should live a life of luxury, tending only to our own needs? My family and I have had our own set of struggles but as I watched a boy the age of six, who was dropped off by his foster mom's friend, talk to me in animated wonderment of all his thoughts and ideas. I noticed to the fact that he hadn't had a shower in a while, deep dark bulging bags under his eyes telling of his many sleepless nights or just as many nights crying. From which I could not tell. Maybe both. I had the most intellectual conversation with a boy who sat reading one of the books from the "Wimpy Boy"series that kids are reading these days. The only telling sign of abuse...not one black eye but two! When he was asked by another child about them he exclaimed with joy; "The swelling is almost gone now!" Am I to think that these children in the midst of turmoil are NOT in the will of God! That they have somehow walked out of God's covering because they are in this devastating situation? God forbid!!! NO!! Suffering is a part of God's will for our lives. I have come to the conclusion that if you are NOT suffering here and there in this life then you are NOT in the will of God!!


That is the answer I feel God has given me. If you still think living in the lap of luxury is God's will for your life then I challenge you to ask Him. If you are willing He will answer...just be ready to not always hear what you want to hear.


Desperately in love with my Saviour, Heidi