Embracing Suffering- Finding out What We are REALLY Made of

I hit the wall today. It was as if everything that had been held at bay from the last few months- came crashing down on me- like a climactic anxious hail storm in a Midwestern town, on a previously hot summer's day. 

Eerily, today around me- the winds in my spirit changed.

Living in Texas for a season- I have seen those crazy thunderstorms dance along the prairie. I have felt the hot morning sun begin, and beat down- until from out of nowhere, a cold front blows in- and what was once hot and steamy now becomes frigid and cold.

Sweaty flesh turns into clammy goose-pimpled skin. Unless you are a Native Texan, you never get used to this dramatic temperature shock- and maybe sometimes even then, you never will.

 Like the woman stuck on top of her roof, in a flood- you'd think she would have known- when the water was waist high? Or the man who knew to not go in the office- the day that fire blazed down.

What were these people doing? Not to cause the change- why where they caught, in the middle of it?

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? Matthew 16:24 (Message)

Hmm, so according to The Word of God, we are called to follow Him, and not run from the suffering. In fact according to scripture- we find out who we really are, in times of personal suffering.

Could it then be determined that our suffering is intended for us to realize- our true selves? Whether winners- or whiners, victims- or victors, conquerors- or condemned?

Could it be, that maybe just maybe- God wants us to know what we are truly made of, in HIM?

Let’s look at the drug addict, when they have just lit up again, and gone into the tailspin of seeking self pleasure- do you think that the Lord maybe just maybe- might let them go there- so that they then can see themselves for REAL? So they can see that they ARE someone worth fighting for? Could it be that our God could love us so much that He allows us to get right near the edge and show ourselves our true colors?

What about, all those poor tortured souls that have done horrible things, could they have woke up one morning and saw there true selves, as evil- uncaring- immoral people and either killed themselves, or went and got themselves killed?

Or how about the inner city kid who gets hammered by life- constantly told that they are nothing- them wakes up one day to the fact that he/she is a child of God and ends up wining the Nobel Peace Prize. Could he/she’s suffering in life have revealed to him/her what they were really made of- and chose to see in themselves- the Spirit of a living God?

So when I hit the wall today, and was fighting back tears- burdened with all of the signs of the times- I decided before I went to bed to write this, and rediscover who I really am.

 

I am MORE than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:37

 I am the HEAD and NOT the TAIL. Deut. 28:13

 I am ABOVE and NOT beneath. Duet. 28:13

 I am made in the IMAGE of GOD. Gen. 1:26

 I have DOMINION. Gen.1:26

CHRIST has reversed the curse, in my LIFE. Gal. 3:13

I am GOD'S. John 10:34

The Kingdom of God is within me. Luke 17:21

 I AM BLESSED. Psalm 34:8, Deut. 28:3

 Who are you? At the end of the day- who are you, really? After all the pain of these last few months- theft, unemployment, sickness, poverty, hunger, emotional pains- you know who I am? I am covered by the blood of the lamb- Jesus Christ... and I am, 

 CHOSEN

Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you father, that I have Jesus- the greatest gift, and thank you Lord that you will NEVER let me fall. I may get close- but You always catch me. I may get lost- but you always find me. I may get confused- but you always straighten my path. Praise You Jesus.

Who do you want to be? Chose Christ, and be chosen.