“For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.” Lamentations 3:31-32
I’ve got a few friends that are getting older and they seem to groan more often now. I’m getting older too.
Did you know that when this happens ..groaning is pretty much biblical. I wouldn’t call it normal really, cuz people were never designed to see this pain in body happen or eventually die as we all will.. unless we are snatched / raptured on outta here.
I feel for my dad right now--he just had eye surgery and is recovering. Lots of eye drops so often!
On groaning the Bible says, “..the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:21-23
The great South African pastor Andrew Murray comforted another person hurting person with words he had written to encourge himself when hurting. He was visiting England in 1895, he began to suffer pain from a previous back injury. What did he say?
First—God brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place. In that I will rest.Next—He will keep me in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.Then—He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.Last—In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.I am here—by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time.”
You and I.. want the instant solution, the quick fix, but some things cannot be disposed of so readily; they can only be accepted. God will keep us by His love. By His grace, we can rest in Him.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1
Dear Lord, hurting, sickness, disease and death are only here cuz of Adam’s sin / cuz of our sin. Sometimes it’s hard to without pain here. Please help me to endure times of illness and suffering. Thanks that you have a good solution, my Healer. Do comfort others through me.. and comfort me too--help me to trust You more Jesus.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you..” John 14:16-18
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” ~ Charles Kingsley“The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vast empty space, whence nothing desirable, or at least satisfactory, can possibly be derived; and I long daily to die more and more to it; even though I obtain not that comfort from spiritual things which I earnestly desire.” ~ David Brainerd
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:26-27
“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
“..Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms 30:5
“Thanks be to God, not–only for ‘rivers of endless joys above, but for ‘rills of comfort here below.’” ~ Adoniram Judson“Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.” ~ Billy Graham
“You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.” Psalms 71:20-21
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” ~ C. S. Lewis
“So also you have sorrow now, but I (Jesus) will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:22
Do you know Jesus ..the real Healer--and His Comforter yet (invite Him and His Spirit in)? Been there with hurting before. I’m personally not hurting at all today, but have dear friends that are. I remember when I was. I prayed.. tears, sorrow, pain..might be my life at times, but... "My times are in Your hands." Psalm 31:15
