Sister, are you in a place of suffering?
And are you beginning to ask God why you are you still here in this place? Or how did you get here in the first place?
Girl I’ve been there and it felt like it lasted forever.
Somehow, I thought freedom in Christ should be instant. I mean He is God right?
Sure He could have fixed it right away if that’s what He desires. All things are possible with God.
But what is God doing when it actually feels like the opposite…..
Where is He? Why isn’t He doing anything? Jesus of all people know we need freedom right?
Truth is we all go through suffering. It’s a part of the journey we are walking here on earth. We were never promised life would be perfect when we started to follow Jesus.
Remember the garden in Genesis?
It was set up perfectly for us to live in complete freedom. He gave Adam and Even free reign over the garden then came the fall. Genesis 3:15-17
So how do we walk in freedom in the midst of suffering?
1) Stop and recognize what are you focusing on.
Focusing on the suffering only keeps our view cloudy.
Galatians 5:7-8 NLT ask who has held us back from following truth? Because you are called to freedom.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is truth even when everything around you feel false or uneasy. Look to Him for answers. His word is truth.
2) Stop putting a time line on Jesus.
No one wants to suffer but when suffering comes we want it taken away instantly. We somehow think there should be a time limit to what we are going through. When we run ahead of God we miss the blessings.
“for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”
Romans 3:26 NLT
Even though not all suffering is due to our sin it ultimately came from the root of sin (remember the fall?)
3) Rejoice in suffering. Sometimes this seems impossible during suffering. I’ve heard many times in my life that there is always something to be thankful for even in suffering. Although it might not be easy it can be done. Feelings will follow when we are obedient. Thank God for your trials and ask him to show you what you need to see and learn. He is partnering with us in the trials. It’s in the suffering that He is changing us and prepares us for His glory. He meets us in the mess.
“Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
1 Peter 4:13 NLT
Mary Beth Powers ❤️ author.speaker 