tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post6637829833357638466..comments2023-09-05T03:54:42.318-07:00Comments on embracing the chaos: my heart lately...ok...like more than lately.Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870698663706346467noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post-60845597590534117132013-03-14T11:13:52.136-07:002013-03-14T11:13:52.136-07:00This is such a good conversation... I agree with ...This is such a good conversation... I agree with M. That a lot of people are suffering. I think a lot of people admire others who have suffered and gained from it, but really would never want to walk that road themselves. I don't really get what you are saying about elevating suffering. I don't really know anyone even talking about it in my life right now, but it is a huge biblical principle that I have been working through inrecent years. I have found personally that as a girl I overheard saying to her friend once said "things grow in dirt." But also, when I have been in the fire/storm, I sometimes have not found God there. Sometimes He has been in the still small voice AFTER the storm. And only because of his past faithfulness, and because He is clearly allowing the storm/fire I hold on. I have also found that he gives seasons of quiet and refreshing, often before major challenges, and looking backwards I can see His oerfect timing and what a gift those seasons are. I have tried to run from suffering because Inhave fiund it to be the most lonely, isolating experience in life, but God is slowly teaching me to look to him alone and always instead of to others. Holly, I think you are right about things being suffering for different people. I read a verse last week that said that God also granted us to suffer with him! It is a gift. That is a hard pill to swallow, but as I have been thinking about it I realize that God has used suffering to heal some deeply sinful or wounded places in me that no calm place would ever be able to touch. I wish I could hear wach of your voices sharing your heart on this as I have been thinking on suffering and why God promises it, why other cultures accept it joyfully as James says we should, and why we (at least I) try to avoid trials and suffering. I still haven't gotten to the consider it our joy part, but I am working on it. :o). Beccyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255968576744501554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post-62135197114555933602013-03-14T09:18:12.821-07:002013-03-14T09:18:12.821-07:00One more thought....okay maybe more than one...I M...One more thought....okay maybe more than one...I MISS THESE TALKS WITH YOU!!!!! Wish I was at your table discussing this as opposed to half a world away....anyways...<br /><br />I don't think we necessarily elevate suffering. I just think that SO many people ARE suffering, they are the ones that get the attention by default, not because they are seeking it, but because they are hurting and seeking HELP. In comparison to the people in a furnace and those who aren't, I think the percentage is drastically minimal compared. More people are suffering as opposed to those who aren't. Simply because we live in a broken world all jacked up by sin. <br /><br />If you had a choice between a broken marriage and a happy one, you'd pick a happy marriage. Or a life unbroken by cancer. You would bring your spouse back from the grave if you had the chance as opposed to living in grief. You would choose food instead of starvation. You would go to a job everyday as opposed to being unemployed. You would win the battle over your addiction. <br /><br />I don't think it's the people living through the fire who are elevating their suffering. If they could get out of the furnace, they would. I think it's other people imposing judgment and quite frankly getting self righteous and defensive that those suffering are supposedly in some kind of imaginary lime light who end up creating the glory for them. <br /><br />You said in your last post that you are living in a "season of simplicity" and that it makes for a "boring blog but a happy heart." Well, (stay with me here)....you are the one who said your blog is boring because life is simple and calm and devoid of any fire right now. :~) No one else said that. I don't think your blog or life is boring because you're not living through a hardship. You imposed that thought on yourself...and then projected it onto everyone else...when we don't feel that way. At least I don't feel that way. I don't read your blog and think, "Geesh! How boring! She needs some problems to make her life more interesting!" No way! You see. I think it's us who make up stuff in our heads and project those thoughts unfairly onto other people. <br /><br />At least, that's what I think. :~) Thoughts????Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03845367078009731281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post-81995902208465135322013-03-13T16:17:41.952-07:002013-03-13T16:17:41.952-07:00When I was in high school I felt similar like ever...When I was in high school I felt similar like everything was going so well but I knew it was in the fire or hard times that I grew with God so much so I stupidly asked God for a trial! This is something I would never recommend because boy did I receive one, He listens to what we ask for! I would just say to not forget the Lord in the good times as it is so easy to do. Just keep taking it day by day and ask for God to keep bringing you closer to Him!Julie Pearsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067050873074770266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post-7887259385402380202013-03-13T14:19:30.386-07:002013-03-13T14:19:30.386-07:00I ditto what Courtney said. I definitely feel like...I ditto what Courtney said. I definitely feel like I am in a season of "fire" and the only thing sustaining me and keeping the flames from turning me to dust is Jesus. Being disciplined to turn to Him daily in the calm is what equips you to lean on Him in the storms. Scripture makes it clear that we're not to wait until we're in the furnace to seek Him. We are to seek Him BEFORE we ever enter into battle. <br /><br />I find it equally frustrating that we can not simply live our lives as what they are without the fear of others judging us. Of course I am a massive hypocrite! I judge people all the time, especially since moving here. Ain't no point in lying about it, Jesus knows my heart, and it's as black as they come. But I have also held back so much of my life since moving to Burkina for fear that people back home will be judging me thinking, exactly what you said, that I am "glorifying the fire". I mentioned to a friend that I don't share a lot because I don't want people to think that I am playing the martyr card. Or that I am "spiritually elevating" myself. But, we shouldn't hide the truth of our lives out of fear that people may or may not judge us because of it. Whether in the fire or not. <br /><br />I just wish that we could all come to a place where we can freely share and find support and encouragement and grace regardless of our level of suffering. I wish we were perfect. Instead of a bunch of sinners. :~)<br />Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03845367078009731281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post-71602163485533913622013-03-13T10:38:18.241-07:002013-03-13T10:38:18.241-07:00from someone "in the fire/furnace/all those t...from someone "in the fire/furnace/all those things you said" right now...<br /><br />if i hadn't had Him in the peace, calm and still...i would be dead right now. as it is, i feel like i'm drowning. but the ONLY reason i'm not is because He was in the calm. <br /><br />He is always working...in the fire and in the rain (i read her post - AMAZING!!!!!) and in the calm, blue sky days. Courtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15081538432594107207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25266584.post-83461388305267973722013-03-13T10:29:56.179-07:002013-03-13T10:29:56.179-07:00Beautiful and terrible things will happen.
Don'...Beautiful and terrible things will happen.<br />Don't be afraid of either. <br /><br />(Or that's at least what helps me handle this tension).jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125965636347800866noreply@blogger.com