Last night as I began to journal late, around 11pm this thought hit me and penetrated my mind with ease, but what came out of this is the truth and the reality that had manifested in my heart as well with my mind. See this is more than something simple, but it started in class one day and now to paint the picture for you, so that you see my point.
As I began to reflect last it became apparent that after all this year had thrown at me that I am still here with a lot to be thankful, yes there were some very hard times, but I made it through. There were some valuable lessons that were taught this year specifically trusting God's plan for our lives and knowing that regardless of what happens there is a bigger purpose. There were some friendships that were forged out of these times and I'm grateful for those, because they have helped me become a better man. But this change in perspective began when I watched a friend write down a value in class, a word that not many would think to be a value. The word was "suffering." Not an easy word to digest when you're talking about values or in general because I know that for me when there are some unpleasant memories attached to suffering so I began hoping to understand how this could word could be a value in someone's life. I texted a friend later that and she directed me to devotional piece from John Piper (http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/the-seminary-of-suffering).
This devotional piece helped me understand a lot more of what my friend had written down in class that, it began to shape the way I've viewed this year and what has come out of this. I can tell you that the good far out ways the bad for this year. That is not something to shake a stick at, that is the reality which is now in my life and the way I understand what I have endured this year is all for a bigger purpose. One day in one class was all it took for God to break through my frustrations and pain with one simple word suffering, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9. This verse along with the others verse surrounding this passage have been a rock for me in these months where life has seemingly gone haywire at times, but it's easy to forget that Christ's grace is sufficient for us. Our perspective get's clouded because of either our pain, the trials we are going, doubt, or a combination of these, but that is why we need to fix our eyes on the cross and remember the price that was paid. You see Christ died for us so that we may have eternal life and his grace is for us, in (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+16%3A33&version=NIV)John chapter 16 verse 33 Jesus paints a picture for the disciples that I don't think we grasp all the time, but we need to remember that if we call ourselves disciples than this verse applies to us, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
This was all because a friend wrote one word and I say that one word and began to ponder that word which God than promptly shared with me this meaning and understanding in a way that I've never known before. Does it make it any easier? I think so, my reasoning because the perspective which has been changed because of this, the understanding that there is always something more than what we are going through at times. There is a video that I'm going to share with you that has meant a lot to me recently and carries some weight with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY&app=desktop
Take Care and God Bless!!
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