i sort of feel like blogging about this but am not sure if it will actually be posted. i'm kind of sobered right now from some profound pain and suffering that is taking place in the lives around me. i have some dear friends who are going through things that most of us either never experience or really hope and pray that we never have to experience. i have been struck by how these friends have honored me, and i truly mean that, by allowing me to have a peak into their lives, into the innermost places where the superficialities are all gone, the make up is worn off, and the reality of life has taken center stage. i have a close friend suffering from an eating disorder so powerful and so manipulative that her body and soul is ravaged. i have another friend who is dealing with the pain of emotional and verbal abuse in her family. yet another experiences the heart-wrenching pain of a dating relationship she thought was headed for marriage, come to an end without warning. still another misses her brand new husband who is in the service and flies planes for months at a time. most recently, dear friends suffer the sudden loss of their 10 month old puppy, their 'child'. one close friend continues to quietly mourn a family member who seems to have 'wandered from the fold'.
all of these things have been brought to my attention in relatively close in proximity to one another. i've been struck by how much pain and suffering is going on all around me, seen and unseen. i pray for my friends. my heart is heavy but the burden of pain and suffering is light. on the brighter side, for me anyway, i feel like one of the richest people in the world to know so many great, authentic people and to be able to call them 'friends'.
"7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:7-18).
all of these things have been brought to my attention in relatively close in proximity to one another. i've been struck by how much pain and suffering is going on all around me, seen and unseen. i pray for my friends. my heart is heavy but the burden of pain and suffering is light. on the brighter side, for me anyway, i feel like one of the richest people in the world to know so many great, authentic people and to be able to call them 'friends'.
"7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:7-18).
3 comments:
Your friends trust you with their tears because you are trustworthy, my darling daughter. God put that soft heart of empathy in you when He formed you because He knew you would use it to soothe the fragile hearts of hurting people way down the road of your life. As you pour yourself out for others, He will fill you up to overflowing with His Spirit, and through the kindnesses you sow, and the tears that you share with friends, you will reap blessings. Continue to draw on Him. I love to watch Him use you. "Not to us, oh LORD, not to us, but to Your Name be the Glory" Olives, Momma XXX
(You may delete this if you don't want to post it)
thanks friend. you are loved by me.
You are a woman full of gracious words for the afflicted. Remember our talk at Crispers a few years ago? (i.e when i was dumped!)
You pointed me to Phil 1:6 and that has been a favorite ever since.
I love your kind heart.
xo,
ash
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