Bible Verse of the Day 8/31/12 "Suffering... what it exposes in our life ...

Bible Verse of the Day

15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;
he speaks to them in their affliction.

Job 36:15

Over this past week we have been looking at the topic of suffering. We began with the questions.

So why do we suffer?

What causes it?

Why does God allow it?

We have talked about both the avoidable and unavoidable causes of suffering. We have looked at how we often respond and the enemy’s desire of how we interpret the challenges we go through in life.

Today we will review what suffering exposes in our life and what to do in the midst of it and beyond.

What suffering exposes in our life

Our beliefs, our theology. The belief that if we live our life in a certain way, there will be no issues, hard times or deep pain.

Our expectations of life and of God

Our style of relating to God and others

The way we handle life

Our deepest wounds and agreements- otherwise these would not come out and be able to be healed and restored.

The way the enemy attacks our heart.

Shows where our hope has been focused (in this world, in your finance, status, family)

Even though working through these is painful. In the midst of it our relationship with the Father becomes more intimate. It is on the other side of these thing that we find deeper freedom and joy.

So how do we get through this?

In the Midst of suffering.

Focus on loving God and letting Him love you, pray for comfort and accept the comfort that is offered. Don’t reject the comfort because it is not the comfort you wanted. He offers His love, we may have wanted the pain to go away, the relationship restored, etc… don’t reject what He is offering this disarms the enemy when you love Him in the midst of it.

We take time to grieve it- this is how we honor our own hearts and admit the suffering is real. Your pain is worth weeping over.

Don’t require understanding, seek breakthrough instead.

After the suffering is subsiding

Don’t waste it, it is too costly

Let it transform you. God may not cause it but he can use it.

Let is change you

Let it loosen your grip on this world

Let it adjust your expectations and your belief system

Let is surface the deep agreements

Let it show you recalibrate your true feelings for God

Breaking agreements like … You (God) never come through, You (God) did this…

You may need to forgive God…not because He did anything to require it, but if you blame Him in any way your heart needs this forgiveness. if not your heart will never be fully open and restored to the Father.

Love Him in it, invite his healing, mercy and grace in His way

Let it strip us from all that is false- false self, false beliefs, false hopes, etc..

It make you more whole and holy.

At the beginning of next week we will finalize our look at this topic that affects us all at times in our life.

Have a blessed day,

Goodheart Ministries

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