At the end of last year I attended a women’s talk at my church. The name of the talk was Sun and Suffering. There was a speaker who shared her stories of hardships in many aspects of her life but also about the beauty that came out of it. If she hadn’t experienced the things that she did, she would not have been able to share the gospel with people and know the Lord in the way that she does now. This idea of Sun and suffering has been on my mind the last few days.
To be completely honest, this year has been incredibly difficult for me. I have been challenged in ways that I did not expect to be and don’t really know how to deal with. I think I’ve experienced real discomfort for the first time in my life. This constant, aching, subtle feeling of being completely out of place and unequipped and not what I expected from the cute Pinterest quotes. I’ve been struggling with homesickness, the weight of a new level of responsibility over my life, navigating friendships and being left alone more often than I would like. This being said, this year has also held many of the most incredible experiences I’ve had.
I have experienced the tender love of the Lord in so many new ways and he has been so active in my life. I have been left in awe of His beautiful creation, His providence through answering prayers and His intentionality in His plans. Most days it doesn’t feel like I’m on an intense personal development journey- I’m usually just trying to get the basics done - but I know that God is stirring much bigger change in me than any self-help program ever could. God is turning me into the person He has planned for me to become so that I can do the work He has predestined for me to do. Just as it says in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.
“Be strong and courageous … for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)
I am reminded of the consistent message God gave Joshua as he lead Israel through war into the promised land. I think in seasons of life like this, when we feel incapable to do what lies ahead of us, this is a verse we can reach for. All of my highs this year have been when I have laid my life down for God, and all of my lows have been when I’ve tried to deal with everything on my own. I think that is a testimony in itself. When we hand over our struggles to our God, he may not take our burdens from us instantly, but He brings His beauty into our situations. My encouragement for you is to trust Him and let Him heal your suffering. Jesus is the light of the world and where He is, no darkness can be. If you surrender your suffering to Him, the Son will fill your life with his light.
He is the Sun in our suffering.
Song recommendation: graves into gardens
Some scripture:
Isaiah 61:3: "To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."
Romans 5:3-5: "(we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
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I hope you have a blessed weekend.
Well chat again soon, love Cailyn x
