My adversities are minimal when I look at the suffering of people around me. As an old head, adversity in my own life and watching others has taught me a few things about what I believe could be some of God's purposes for suffering. Here are six things I've learned about adversity and suffering.
- Suffering and brokenness create greater capacities for love.
- Compassion is teachable and is learned through serving suffering people.
- Empathy is the effect and the cause is suffering. Empathy reveals what's in our hearts.
- Out of kindness comes the desire to serve. Kindness multiplies the more it is used.
- Without adversity, one would not know blessing. Without ashes, one would not know beauty.
- Suffering in others causes us to pray and bring us into communication with God.
DAY 19 WORD
the words of that prophet,
or that dreamer of dreams:
for the Lord your God
proveth you,
to know whether
ye love the Lord your God
with all your heart and
with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 13:3
DEEP THOUGHTS
The word "hearken" in Hebrew is "shama" which means; "to listen, to understand, to obey." The word "proveth" in Hebrew is "nacah" which means to; "to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test." The phrase "to know" in Hebrew is "yada" which means: to know, learn to know, to perceive and see, find out and discern. God regularly tests us to see what is in our hearts. People with a good word of advice will come along, it may be true or it may not be. Trust God and He will help you discern the truth.
Sometimes suffering comes because we trusted the wrong people. God can use your surrender to Him as a means of removing the suffering. It's a good habit to always ask God what He wants you to learn from the times and seasons you're going through. I believe God created the change of seasons to let us know that each season will pass. Your season of suffering and mourning will someday turn to joy and thanksgiving. Seek Him. Know Him. Ask Him. Trust Him. Wisdom and discernment received from God, will give you the revelation of Truth uniquely designed for your understanding.
DAY 19 PRAYER
Who tests us to know our hearts.
Create in us a clean heart O God.
Test us to prove our ways.
Gives us greater knowledge of You.
Make some sense of our sufferings.
We know that You conceal many things from us
That are too inconceivable for us to understand.
But we trust You.
Guide us through the valleys and
Over the mountains of this world.
Keep us from temptation.
And deliver us from evil.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.