Monday, May 15, 2017

Agonies which haunt you: Grieving #8

As we all know, life in general is more difficult when we do not feel good and when we have chronic pain.  Everything we do, we see, we think about seems so very much worse.  It is just difficult. During these times it is difficult to capture our thoughts for the LORD and think on things above when we physically hurt.

Meanwhile, our traumas, our agonies, our sadnesses, our grieving...all of these haunt us in our physical weaknesses.  

We do not feel good, and so we seek the LORD.  We are blessed!  

But then it is "the next day" and life is still painful in the many ways it can be painful, and we are "needled" by our agonies.  

It may seem we can't get away from the thought of them, the pain of them.  Everywhere we turn we are reminded of our life's agonies. These agonizing trials and troubles haunt us.  Grief may become unbearable.  We may become so overwhelmed in our grief that we forget to trust in the LORD and call on Him.

*Do not give up, precious sisters in Christ!* 

The LORD hears your cries!  He knows your sadness, He knows your physical pains.

He has not forgotten you.  You may feel like He forgets you, but this is not in His character.  He never leaves you alone, He always hear your cries, and He will not turn away from you. 

When you trust Jesus as your LORD and Savior, you are safe in Him.

Hebrews 13:5-6
"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, 
being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 

“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 

so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.

What will man do to me?


Psalm 118:5-9
"From my distress I called upon the Lord;

The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.

The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?

The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes."

Sisters, when you become overwhelmed in your physical pain, overwhelmed in your grief, overwhelmed in anything in your life - REMEMBER the LORD.

The LORD God Almighty is your ROCK, He gives you a "large place" where you are safe in Him.  It is in Him in which you can and will be revived when you rest in Him.

Psalm 6:6-9
"I am weary with my sighing;
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.

My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.

Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,

For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication,

The Lord receives my prayer."

Psalm 71:17-23
O God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.

For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?

You who have shown me many troubles and distresses
Will revive me again,
And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

May You increase my greatness
And turn to comfort me.

I will also praise You with a harp,
Even Your truth, O my God;
To You I will sing praises with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You;
And my soul, which You have redeemed."

Colossians 3:1-4

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, 
keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, 
seated at the right hand of God. 

Set your mind on the things above, 
not on the things that are on earth. 
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, 
then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

May we give God the glory in our joys and in our sorrows!

Praise be to God!


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jill,

What a comfort this post is! This series has ministered to me greatly, and I am sure others have benefitted as well.

And yes, chronic physical pain is difficult to endure, especially when coupled with other struggles. Even if all one has is that chronic pain, it is a constant "companion", so much so that the pain begins to feel "normal". Imagine that, feeling "lousy" becomes "normal". Mercy!!!

Compassion is such a balm ... and our Lord is full of tender mercy and compassion!

But of course, we still groan within ourselves - in anticipation of the redemption of our bodies! Romans 8:23 And isn't that something to encourage us!!! :)

-Carolyn

The Piper's Wife said...

Thank you, Carolyn, for your significant insight.

Compassion is huge. The LORD's compassion is so beautiful, and when we choose to continue to live our lives in our pain and sufferings and express compassion for others even in our grief and agonies - it is like an equation is completed. When we choose to learn and follow Him and His character and we learn from Him, it is a beautiful reflection of Him! Praise the LORD!

When chronic pain is "normal": Your statement is so true! Some of us can't even remember what pain free is! Praise the LORD! we have glory to look to in our hope of Him!