“I wonder if part of the reward for persevering through affliction could be a greater capacity for joy. Jesus tells us that the joy of finding the lost coin was greater than the joy of never losing it because restoration brings joy. For everything we’ve suffered, every loss we’ve endured, every unfulfilled longing, our joy will be that much deeper when it is restored and fulfilled in heaven.” (Vaneetha Risner, Watching for the Morning)
“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1, NIV)..
Some days I can’t find the capacity to keep on praying and not give up. It hurts to hope when I fix my sights on an outcome. It’s easier to trust God to walk with us through whatever may come.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24, NIV).
Why do Jeff’s afflictions continue? Why, Jesus, did you challenge us to pray and expect relief? Why are we still struggling? Maybe why is the wrong question to ask.
How will You help us keep walking in faith? How can we honor You, God, in the middle of our hard places? How are You using our pain to increase our capacity for joy? These questions feel more trusting and hopeful.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV).
Why does God end some struggles and allow others to persist? He loves us. This should be enough. Still, waking each day and mustering up hope that He might surprise us with solutions could be what He is training us to do. Maybe every time we hope beyond what we can see, Jesus really is increasing our capacity to know joy. Maybe that eternal glory really will be more than worth this moment of darkness and doubt.
Please heal my husband, O LORD. Please provide for our desperate needs. Please show me how to hold onto hope. You can do all things. You have a purpose for our pain.
This is so encouraging! Thank you for faithfully sharing.