Feb 1, 2008
children, suffering, beauty & truth
As Americans, all suffering is abhorrent to us. We have chosen to silence it rather than understand its mystery. I do not claim to desire to suffer.. who does, yet when it comes, what is our posture. Has God rejected those who are suffering, or is it those who are suffering who are truly blessed in intimacy with God that can be gained along no other path. Because of what Jesus says in the Beatitudes, I am bent to believe that it is the later.
Perhaps even more difficult, is not our own suffering, but the suffering of those who are closest to us. I invite you to read about a family who is both suffering and being blessed: http://fahmer.blogspot.com/
One Comment, Comment or Ping
J Whiting
The connection between suffering and intimacy with God is one that challenges me pretty often. There's multitudes of testimonies (mine included) to the reality of the connection, but…
Is there no other way to intimacy besides suffering? Most people would probably say, sure, there's got to be other ways. Some others would say, nope, suffering is God's genuine way to intimacy.
I'm with the first group, but find that most who would agree that there are other routes to intimacy with God besides suffering are short on just what those routes are. So I'll toss out a few I've found beneficial:
Live in prayer. Kind of like 'pray without ceasing' our lives become a constant communion with Jesus — since we're seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus anyway, this isn't so far-fetched, as it is Spirit induced.
Pray with other pray-saturated people. While any group prayer is good, praying with the 'mighty prayers' can be anywhere from intimidating to breath-taking…it might take some dosing-up to it.
'Soaking', which is nothing more than getting quiet with God and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal more if Jesus (or the Father) to you, perhaps with some worship music in the background and hang out a while in His presence while He answers your prayer.
Quoting or reading some of the praise Psalms or passages from the Song (of Solomon) directly to Jesus. Blow Him a kiss. Sing with the Cherubim and 24 elders in the Revelation passages.
Jul 22nd, 2010
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