God is with us in our suffering. Let me tell you how I know. As I type this, I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of quicksand of heartbreak and grief. Some of you can relate to it. I know because many of you have encouraged me with your own personal experiences with loss. It hasn’t been a year since my mom died from complications with heart disease and dementia.
Losing her upended my life in ways I never anticipated. It demolished my daily routines, left me incredibly lonely, and left an immeasurable gap in my heart.
Frankly, I was JUST beginning to see the light of day from all that when my brother advised me his cancer had taken a turn.
He was given two weeks to live. I felt dizzy from the news. Even so, God blessed us with two additional weeks past the prognosis; the time with him was the sweetest of my life.
He left me on his birthday and graciously waited until I had exited the hospital before he transitioned. Though I was there every day – sitting, comforting, and praying, I secretly prayed I would not see his last breath.
I don’t think I could have handled that. God knows what we can bear.
Two weeks after he left for heaven, I got COVID – dealing with it now.
Always transparent, let me say, I’m done – squeezed dry emotionally.
Crushed to bits and living in the fire of life.
I feel burned to a crisp.
The fire of these trials feels like they are consuming me.
But, as I read today in Deuteronomy 4:12, God speaks through the fire, which means He is in it.
“And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.” Deuteronomy 4:12
As I read this chapter this morning, I paused.
No, I was frozen.
Without considering my own situation, my eyes became fixed on the words, “The Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire.”
In this scripture, the Holy Spirit elucidated the truth that God is with me in my fire.
This is true even though this indescribable grief blinds me from seeing Him at work.
It prevents me from even feeling Him.
Regardless, I know He is here.
He’s Speaking to my heart.
He is carrying me through each long, seemingly unending day.
Sometimes, I feel He is dragging me as I feel like a dead weight emotionally and spiritually.
He constantly gives me solace in His Word and peace in my shattered spirit.
To be clear, I know I am taking a theological “liberty” with this scripture. I know it’s not the proper context.
Still, I know God used it today.
Just like Jesus spit in the sand and made a paste to heal a blind man, I believe He used His Holy Spirit to create a spiritual salve from this unlikely verse.
God is with us in our suffering.
I’m sure you can relate to some of what I’m going through.
If not, keep on living.
Trials will find you because it is part of life. Jesus promised it.
The blessing in this doomed prediction is when adversity comes; God will be with you.
When you feel utterly numb, muddled, and emaciated from the suffering of life, He is right in the middle of that fire. He is speaking to you and giving you the strength to get through it all.
Never forget that God is with us in our suffering. He shows up, and He remains.
We simply have to fall back into Him and trust everything will be okay.
That’s what I’m doing…this very second.
I am the walking wounded and anticipate being so for a long time.
Still, I am not alone, nor am I destroyed.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
My faith is strong, but make no mistake about it: my heart is smashed.
Nonetheless, I will praise the Lord amid this fiery trial and rejoice once again when life’s joyful times return to me.
This is just my season of mourning.
It will pass just as summer’s soft, supple leaves go from bright green to a dry, crispy beige.
May I be found faithful in this trial and bring glory to His name – that’s all that matters.
Further, may I remember He is speaking to me through the fire.
How?
Through His Word, the support of friends and family, and that still, small voice.
Yes.
Thanks for reading, and I love you.
Stay strong in your battle.
God is with us all – in the good times and the bad times.
Below is a picture of my brother after giving my mom flowers. He was good at stuff like that.
That old knucklehead. :)
Bible scriptures to bless you
If you are in a season of struggle, here are some Bible scriptures remind you that God is with us in our suffering.
Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Romans 8:18
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“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 receive from God.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
John 16:33
“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.”
1 Peter 5:10
“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”
Hebrews 13:5
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”
Matthew 28:20
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
