Embracing the Afflictions

 

 

Yesterday marked 36 days of my dad being in the ICU/hospital, and today the first in rehabilitation. 

 

 There are so many things I feel and want to say and yet after hearing these simple few words on a sermon as I walked in the brisk air this morning... I realized my hurt, my tears, my struggle, it could be summed up within this phrase:

 

"Embrace your afflictions." 

 

My dad was given less than a 4% chance to live... and yet he is alive. 

I'm tired of being sad and moping around, feeling sorry...  so I realized that even in this affliction, God has a purpose for it.

 

I don't want this season in my life to just pass by without the Lord changing my heart and in turn using it for His glory. And so I write.

 

I write because I know somewhere out there, there is someone hurting. Someone crying over their diagnosis. Someone crying over a sickness or circumstance. Someone crying over cancer. 

 

And yet.

 

I'm here to tell you that the God I serve didn't merely "get through" the pain of the cross... He embraced it until the very end. Until Jesus himself proclaimed IT IS FINISHED.

 

And so I'm here to tell you that no matter what your circumstances look like today... my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is bigger than anything you are facing. 

 

 Jesus is bigger than your fear.

Jesus is bigger than disease.

Jesus is bigger than sickness.

Jesus is bigger than tragedy. 

Jesus is bigger than sorrow. 

Jesus is bigger than cancer.

 

JESUS defeated death.  

 

 

No matter what a doctor may tell you... the Lord numbers our days, no one else. I've seen Him work many miracles thus far... and I'm here to tell you that God works ALL things together for our good and His glory. 

 And we know that all things work together for good. to them that love God, to them who are the called. according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

So if you are walking through a fire today, I want to encourage you and pray that you trust in the One who died to defeat death. To defeat our sins... because He took our place. 

I serve a God of the possible, and I know that though I walk through this fire... He didn't allow any hurt to come upon me or those I love, because He is refining me through it all. 

 

 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

And once His work is complete in us, we shall be like gold... purified to perfection, just like Him. 

 “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”Job 23:10