Suffering, Difficulties, Trials

Here is a prayer for 9/11 which I read somewhere: Dear Loving Father, We pause to remember the great losses and courageous acts of September 11th. We lift up those who are still affected -- Families of the victims, police officers, firemen, first responders and all who were involved. We pray for the light of Christ to flood the hearts of people everywhere. We believe you desire to redeem all your creation, and we trust that beauty will continue to come from the ashes of our darkest days. Surround us with your mighty angels of protection, give us compassion for one another in all life’s circumstances, and the courage to answer your call. Amen.

The following comes from the front of a get well card.  (I can't figure out the spacing and font type so have the extra spacing. If you can help me with this let me know.)

Five Things God Wants You To Remember In Trying Times

1. You're never, ever alone.

2.Nothing takes God by surprise.

3.When you're weak, God's strong.

4. God is the God of new beginnings.

5. God's love never gives up on us.

 Here are some sentences or paragraphs from Streams In The Desert which relate to dealing with difficulty, trouble, problems, etc.

"God uses trouble to teach His children precious lessons. Difficulties are intended to educate us, and when their good work is done, a glorious reward will become ours through them. There is a sweet joy and a real value in difficulties, for He regards them not as difficulties but as opportunities."

"When God tests you, it is a good time to test God by putting His promises to the test and then claiming from Him exactly what your trials have made necessary."

"Once God has deepened us, He can give us His deepest truths, His most profound secrets, and will trust us with greater power. Lord, lead us into the depths of Your life and save us from shallow existence."

"There is a divine mystery in suffering, one that has a strange and supernatural power and has never been completely understood by human reason. No one has developed a deep level of spirituality or holiness without experiencing a great deal of suffering. When a person who suffers reaches a point where he/she can be calm and carefree, inwardly smiling at his/her own suffering and no longer asking God to be delivered from it, then the suffering has accomplished its blessed ministry, perseverance has finished its work, and the pain of the Crucifixion has begun to weave itself into a crown."

"Beloved, God's promises can never fail to be accomplished, and those who patiently wait can never be disappointed, for believing faith leads to realization. Abraham's life condemns a spirit of hastiness, admonishes those who complain, commends those who are patient, and encourages quiet submission to God's will and way. Remember, Abraham was tested but patiently (for the most part) waited, ultimately received what was promised, and was satisfied. If you will imitate his example, you will share the same blessing."

Thomas 'A Kempis writes in The Imitation of Christ, "It is good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by others even though we do well and mean well. These things help us to be humble and shield us from vanity. When to all outward appearances others give us no credit, when they do not think well of us, then we are more inclined to seek God, who sees our hearts. Therefore, we ought to root ourselves so firmly in God that we will not need human consolations."

Oswald Chambers writes in My Utmost For His Highest; "The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servant of other people. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of others but count everything in the estimate of God. Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint is not one who proclaims the gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives."

Finally from the ESV study Bible notes on the last half of James 5; "The prayer of faith is not the faith of the sick person but the faith of those praying." James is not teaching that all illnesses will be healed if people would simply call on the elders, or try to make themselves have enough faith or pray with enough conviction. Healing, when it does come, is always a gift from God, who is sovereign over all circumstances, including sickness and health (could I also add surgeries)."

I just started reading Laura Story's (the song Blessings) new book titled When God Doesn't Fix It; Lessons you never wanted to learn. Truths you can't live without.

I'll keep you posted on what I read and discover.

May God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness shine in your life to give you the knowledge of the glory, power, mercy and love of God in Jesus.