Harsh Realities…Abundant Grace
September 25, 2006
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As I was trying desperately to go to sleep last night I started thinking about the harsh realities of life. My life to be specific. As my thoughts raced in my head I thought the harshest one is that my son Scott is dead. Than I thought my mom is dead, I am going completely deaf, my husband is in pain every day missing his son. Than God in His mercy changed my path. These were still harsh realities but I was thinking of Him and His harsh realities in this earth. I am a sinner I thought. I or someone must pay for my sins. God sent Jesus. He faced harsh realities. He prayed, cried out in the garden for God to take His harsh reality from Him. He was beaten beyond recognition, spit upon, mocked, and nailed to a cross. All of those are really harsh realities. The harshest one was that His father God turned His face away. Jesus cried out,
Matthew 27:46
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I thought about this and realized that I have never felt forsaken. All of the realities I am facing today may be harsh. I am not denying that but I have never felt that God has turned His face from me. He has loved me even in my rebellion and anger. He has cared for me abundantly through His people. He has saved me from hell and has promised life forever with Him. He has given me abundant mercies. Thank you Father God for these abundant mercies! To You be the glory!
Remember there is no harsher reality than the one Jesus already lived.
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1.
Danielle | September 25, 2006 at 10:56 am
How blessed we are that our Lord was forsaken FOR US, so we’d never have too! Thank you reminding me of that truth today.
BTW, if you like reading, you might get a lot of “Sacred Sorrow” by Michael Card. It’s ministered to me so much in dealing sorrow.
2.
zoanna | September 27, 2006 at 1:00 pm
So well said, Donna. Having a godly perspective (which always means choosing not to have a worldy one) is most comforting. Been praying for you lately.
3.
Kristin | September 27, 2006 at 5:58 pm
What an example of how to find ways to praise admidst the heartache.
I was reading once about how our sorrows and pain should remind us…like you said..of the sorrows and pain that Christ endured. We will never suffer as Christ did…praise God. And when our sufferings are almost more than we can handle…may it give a fresh perspective of the love God has given to us that He would not allow us to suffer to the extent of His full wrath on us.
I am praying for you. May God’s blessings be evident in your life and you be able to rejoice at how the Lord has kept you. I miss seeing you!
4.
Dana | September 29, 2006 at 11:51 pm
So good, Donna. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Suffering hurts us – none escape. It is so true that Jesus suffered more than we will – especially when forsaken by the Father. He cried out – so touching the way you reminded us of that in relation to your own trials… Crying out to God is Biblical. I am glad for God’s Word, and for His church.
5.
peg | October 3, 2006 at 7:33 am
wow, donna, thank you for sharing this. what a work God has done in your heart.
he will never leave us and carries us through the valleys.
6.
Sarah | October 4, 2006 at 1:17 pm
I just wanted to let you know I was praying for you and your family last night (and will continue to). Hope you are all finding peace and comfort despite it being the most difficult season for you all.
You have probably read this passage several times, but I felt the need to share it again.
2 Corintihans 1:3-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.