To my fellow sufferers...

This week I had a great conversation with a friend of mine about a subject that happens to be coming up a lot in my life recently...so just like any good blogger would, I made a note to blog it. As I start writing this I have to think to myself first of all where in the world to I start with this and second, how personal do I really want to get. Well, I have decided to start here...
1 Peter 4:12-13 'Dear friends, do not be suprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.'
Granted, my 'suffering' is slight compared to the trials that many people around the world are having to face, I do have the tendancy to look at my struggles and become weary. And I have just come to a very important and real understanding of how and WHY God stretches us through suffering. I know that when I am stretched in my faith and still believe and have confidence in God's power and wisdom, I will come out with stronger faith and a 'greater capacity to serve Him.'1 When it comes down to it, this is why I am alive and serving Him is what I desire to do through every aspect of my life. (Another side of this issue is the fact that Satan is SO ready to pounce on our every weakness and try his hardest to bring us to a place of defeat. I often ask myself, why does it take me so long to figure out, in the midst of pain and suffering that so much of it is because I give in to Satan's lies. But that is a whole other blog.)
Fact is, fellow sufferers, He won't give us more than we can handle...through His power, we will always come out of our pain (hopefully better at trusting Him then before our trials) when we rely on the power of God to work in our lives. Aren't you glad we are all in this together, on this 'SHORT road called life, in preparation for eternity with Him!'2

1. http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/devotionals/in_touch/
2. Thanks Molly!