Ocean Waves

(It will be helpful to read my previous post first.)

There are friends in my life that are hurting so much right now!  I love them dearly and want to be able to whisk away the pain.  But this I know...the pain is doing redemptive work.  And deeply redemptive work often means deeply redemptive pain.

Scripture is clear over and over again that our suffering is of great value...WHAT??  Yup, our suffering is of great value.  God has no intention of wasting our suffering.  Does that mean that suffering is brought on by God?  Not necessarily, but God knows our suffering and uses it to works God's will.

In my friends I see God revealing layers and layers of pain that he is healing.  God loves us so much that sometimes he allows us to stay in the pain until the healing is deep, and real, and life changing, and powerful.

These friends are not living at the level of birdbath faith (See the previous post).  They have been knocked over by the ocean waves.  They are being tossed and turned by scary waves of grace and love...redemptive waves knocking them off their feet...BUT daddy is there!  The Father God is there to scoop them up, calm the waves and carry them to shore.  They will not be washed out to sea.

There are so many passages of Scripture that come to mind:  Peter walking on the water, the storm where Jesus calms the wind and sea, Romans 5:3-5, which says, "We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us." Also James 1:2-4, and I could go on and on.  I haven't even touched the Psalms or Job..

Remember our hope does not disappoint us, because, our hope is built on nothing less that Jesus' blood and righteousness!

I Peter 5:10  After you have suffered a little while, God himself will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power forever and ever.  So be it, Lord!!